TE24 International Desk:
JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Yar Lapid on Tuesday called on French President Emmanuel Macron to crack down on Iran’s nuclear talks for a tough time, warning that the Tehran-backed Hezbollah group was “playing with fire.”
Rapid’s visit to France, his first foreign trip since taking over as caretaker prime minister last week, is also an opportunity to sway diplomatic sources as Israelis prepare for snap elections in November.
France is one of the world’s major powers trying to revive the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, which the previous US government scrapped and Israel rejected because they felt its cap was inadequate.
As a former Lebanese colonial administrator, France has added influence to Beirut-leaders – facing an economic crisis on Saturday when Israel shot down three Hezbollah drones targeting one of the Mediterranean gas rigs. Trembled.
A senior Israeli official told reporters that the French people were very active on the Iran issue. “It’s important for us to emphasize … Israel opposes the return of the JCPOA (2015 nuclear deal). Similarly, we will not reject the agreement. The goal of a very strong agreement. I.”
Israel is not involved in the nuclear talks. But Western capitals are wary of their concerns about their nemesis, fearing that if they see diplomacy as a dead end, they may resort to premeditated military action.
Since the U.S. attack, Iran itself has ignored the deal and launched a project with the potential to make bombs, but has denied such a design. That technological advancement has stalled the fruitless discussions of the past.
“We hope to end the endless talks,” a senior Israeli official said, calling for “cooperative pressure” on Iran and “support for building a proper structure.”
Hezbollah’s stronghold in Lebanon has a de facto Israeli front with Iran. Israeli officials have blamed the “playing with fire” group for Saturday’s shooting.
Officials declined to elaborate on the warning, but Rapid said he would share with Macron “new elements to explain how Hezbollah is endangering Lebanon.”
Hezbollah and Israel engaged in a war across the Lebanese border in 2006, but have remained almost stable since then. The Kalish oil rigs off the Lebanese coast will eventually produce gas not only for Israel, but eventually for the European Union, officials said.
