“Iran is an existential threat. We give full backing to this government if the decision is made to strike. We are approaching the crossroads of a decision on the Iranian issue,” the former minister said at a cultural event.
“If there is no agreement between Iran and the world powers, we should attack Iran by the end of 2021,” he said.
Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu has been sharply critical of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, particularly on the matter of Iran. The premier has responded that his predecessor’s government was stagnant on the issue.
Hanegbi’s comments came as US President Joe Biden and European leaders expressed their “grave and growing concern” at Iran’s nuclear activities, and reportedly discussed potential plans if Tehran refused to return to the negotiating table.
Iran, which has stalled indirect negotiations with the United States in Vienna regarding a mutual return to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, said last week that it would restart negotiations by the end of November. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan responded that the US was still trying to determine whether Iran was in earnest regarding the negotiations. READ MORE
