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'They are champions at lying': Ex-defense official warns against US-Iran nuclear deal

From Jerusalem Post · (3m ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Former Israeli defense official Avner Vilan expressed skepticism about a potential US-Iran nuclear deal, citing Tehran's history of deception.
  • Vilan highlighted Iran's current stockpile of approximately 450 kilograms of enriched uranium, which he stated brings the country close to the threshold for multiple nuclear bombs.
  • He emphasized that any agreement must include the neutralization or full disclosure of Iran's enriched uranium, warning that Tehran might not be truthful about its holdings.

From Jerusalem, the prospect of a US-Iran nuclear deal is viewed with deep suspicion, a sentiment echoed by former senior Israeli defense official Avner Vilan in his interview with 103FM. Vilan's assessment underscores a long-standing Israeli concern: Iran's persistent pattern of deceptive behavior in international negotiations.

The Iranians are champions at lying and cheating. I would not be surprised if they say they found only 300 kilograms, and the rest was lost. That would be a very serious situation.

— Avner VilanVilan expresses his strong doubt about the credibility of future Iranian declarations regarding their nuclear program.

The core of the issue, as Vilan points out, remains Iran's significant stockpile of enriched uranium. The figure of 450 kilograms, accumulated since 2018, is alarming, bringing Tehran perilously close to the capability of producing multiple nuclear weapons. For Israel, this is not a theoretical concern but an existential threat that demands concrete action.

Vilan's insistence on the neutralization or complete disclosure of this material is a non-negotiable point from an Israeli security perspective. The idea that Iran might not be entirely forthcoming about its nuclear assets is not a hypothetical scenario but a deeply ingrained fear, rooted in past experiences. The comparison to the Hormuz Strait mines incident serves as a stark reminder of Tehran's willingness to mislead.

What do you mean? They are Iranians. We saw the story with the mines in Hormuz, when they said they did not know where they were.

— Avner VilanVilan uses a past incident to illustrate his belief in Iran's propensity for deception.

While Vilan acknowledges that Iran might seek concessions and potentially show flexibility on enrichment levels to ensure regime survival, the underlying trust deficit remains profound. The Jerusalem Post, reflecting a common viewpoint in Israel, understands the complexities of these negotiations but prioritizes national security above all else. Any deal must demonstrably dismantle Iran's path to a nuclear weapon, not merely offer a temporary pause.

It brings them very close to the order of magnitude of 11 or 12 nuclear bombs. This material must be out of Iran or neutralized.

— Avner VilanVilan quantifies the threat posed by Iran's current enriched uranium stockpile.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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