Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says “dramatic” intelligence discovered this week reveals that Iran is “brazenly lying” about its nuclear weapons program.
Netanyahu says Iran is violating a 2015 nuclear deal. Intelligence shows that “half a ton” of files related to its nuclear weapons programs were moved to a “highly secret” location in Tehran after the deal.
"These files conclusively prove that Iran is brazenly lying when it says it never had a nuclear weapons program," he said.
The files include more than 55,000 pages and 55,000 files on some 180 CDs.
The prime minister showed copies of the material in a nationally televised address. The nuclear program in Iran to build a weapon was called “Project Amad.”
Netanyahu talked with President Donald Trump about the information over the weekend. Trump has said in the past that he wants the country out of the deal, and a deadline to re-certify the deal is coming up soon, according to Fox News.
"In a few days’ time, President Trump… will make a decision on what to do with the nuclear deal," he said. "I’m sure he’ll do the right thing, the right thing for the United States, the right thing for Israel, the right thing for the peace of the world.”
On Monday, Trump said he would make a decision “on or before” May 12.
"That doesn't mean I won't negotiate a new agreement," the president said. “We’ll see what happens."
Netanyahu also detailed the information to Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. He said would next speak with leaders in the United Kingdom and China.
The 2015 nuclear deal lifted some sanctions on the country on the promise that the country would cut back on its nuclear program.
But Netanyahu says the deal doesn’t prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons capabilities.
"The nuclear deal gives Iran a clear path to producing an atomic arsenal," he said Monday.
Photo courtesy: Getty Images
Publication date: May 1, 2018