The United Nations Security Council has endorsed the Iran nuclear deal, although the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commander has deemed the agreement “unacceptable.”
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency quoted Commander Mohammed Ali Jafari:
“Some parts of the draft have clearly crossed the Islamic republic’s red lines, especially in Iran’s military capabilities,” he reportedly said ahead of the resolution being passed in New York.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter says the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 does not prevent Washington from using military force against Iran if it deems a military option necessary.
Carter made the remarks before arriving in Tel Aviv for talks with Israeli leaders who have been angered by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between Iran and the P5+1. But Carter made it clear that his visit is not to stop Israel’s opposition to the nuclear deal but rather aimed at deepening military ties between the two nations.
Washington and Jerusalem have been discussing the renewal of a 10-year pact that grants Israel some 3 billion dollars annually in military aid from the US. The deal will expire in 2018.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has set up a committee to work out how to stop racism, following months of protests by Ethiopian Jews who complain of institutionalised discrimination in the country. Many black Israelis, however, believe the move is “too little, too late” and that a committee will change little.
There are those who are critical of the Iran nuke deal because it calls for the lifting of sanctions. But appearing on the CNN program State of the Nation, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry notes that – the sanctions won’t be removed immediately. That Iran must qualify for sanctions removal.
“It has eight years out of a 10 year component of the UN resolution,” Kerry said. Adding, “…we have other UN resolutions and other UN mechanisms for holding Iran accountable.”
There’s a lot of criticism in Israel over the deal with Iran over its nuclear program. U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, appearing on the CBS News show Face the Nation, says she remains optimistic it will prove successful. Feinstein predicts swift approval for the agreement at the UN.
As to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s concerns about the U.S. Congress’ approval of the deal, Feinstein says, “I think it’s pretty clear to everybody that America has Israel’s back.”
Five nearly simultaneous car bombs rocked Gaza. The targets: leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. It was not immediately clear who was responsible. But there was some speculation that affiliates of ISIS may be to blame. However, there has been internal political division within Gaza of late. No one was seriously injured by the attacks that occurred over a 15 minute period and targeted parked, unoccupied vehicles.
The agreement with Iran will endanger world peace. So argues Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon. His comments made during an army graduation ceremony. Ya’alon arguing the permanent five members of the UN Security Council and Germany ignored Iran’s history of exportation of terrorism. And that the West mistakenly trusts Iran. President Obama argues the deal is based on verification – not trust.
Candidate to be next Mossad chief calls nuclear agreement ‘massive betrayal’ of #Israel & #Sunni states http://t.co/Y685t2EjdM @MitchGins
— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) July 15, 2015
Five Palestinians are in custody. Charged in the murder last month of an Israeli in the West Bank. The accused trigerman, identified by Shin Bet as Mohammed Abu Shaheen, is said to have ties to an armed group linked to Fatah. Fatah is the party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The victim was not a settler but a hiker, 25-year-old Danny Gonen.
Five Palestinians arrested over Israeli's murder http://t.co/ftTx0nIWHK pic.twitter.com/yJl8atubOY
— FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) July 15, 2015
In this interview with Gary Baumgarten, Talk Radio News Service UN correspondent Luke Vargas takes a look at the agreement with Iran. At its intentions. Possible pitfalls. Opportunities missed. What it means to the Iranian people. And reaction from Israel.