Netanyahu says Trump agrees Iran deal must remove nuclear threat

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he and US President Donald Trump agreed that any final agreement with Iran must remove the nuclear threat posed by Tehran.

Posting on Telegram, Netanyahu said this would require dismantling Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities and removing enriched nuclear material from its territory.

He said Trump had reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself against threats on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

Earlier, a senior Israeli official told AFP that Trump assured Netanyahu that he would hold firm on his demand for the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program as a condition in any final agreement with Tehran.

“President Trump made clear that he will remain steadfast in the negotiations regarding his longstanding demand for the dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program and the removal of all enriched uranium from Iranian territory, and that he will not sign a final agreement absent these conditions,” the official said, referring to a conversation between the two leaders on Saturday night.

“The United States is updating Israel on the negotiations surrounding the memorandum of understanding for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and initiating talks toward a final agreement on the outstanding disputed issues,” the official said.

During their talk, Netanyahu stressed that Israel “will preserve its freedom of action against threats on all fronts, including Lebanon,” the official added. “President Trump reiterated his support for this principle.”