Netanyahu wants to discuss Iran deal with Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he wants to discuss with Donald Trump "various ways" to undo the Iran nuclear deal, after the President-elect moves into the White House in January, media reported on Monday.

Trump's approach to the Iran nuclear programme will strengthen US-Israel relations and make them really amicable, RT online quoted Netanyahu as telling CBS' 60 Minutes in an interview.

Netanyahu called the deal to be undone and said it has opened opportunities for Iran to develop nuclear weaponry. "I think Iran didn't rush to the bomb before there was a deal, because they were afraid of retribution," he said.

He said he has "about five things in his mind" to undo the Iran nuclear deal, but refused to elaborate. Even if the deal is reversed, there still would be "many more" options to prevent Iran from manufacturing nuclear weapons, said the Israeli PM.

Netanyahu also said that he hopes Donald Trump would be a good friend to Israel.

"I know Donald Trump. And I think his attitude, his support for Israel is clear. He feels very warmly about the Jewish state, about the Jewish people. There's no question about that," said Netanyahu.

Asked if he expected a better relationship with Washington after the tumultuous years of the Obama administration, Netanyahu admitted he had differences of opinion with the outgoing US President, particularly on the nuclear deal. But he insisted that the matter was never personal.

In December, the US Senate voted unanimously to renew the sanctions on Iran for another decade. It was described as a symbolic move, but it allows the President to impose new restrictions on Tehran if it violates the 2015 nuclear accord.

The agreement between Tehran and six major world powers strictly limited the capabilities of the country's nuclear problem in exchange for lifting international sanctions.

--IANS

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