Israel FM heads to UK, France to mobilise against Iran deal

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid arrived in the UK capital London yesterday on a two-day trip that will also see him visit France in a bid to mobilise against the possible signing of a new Iranian nuclear deal, a statement said yesterday.

According to Haaretz, Lapid will meet several high-ranking British officials including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron.

“The Minister’s visit will focus on the resumption of nuclear talks in Vienna as well as the deepening of bilateral relations between Israel and Britain and France,” a statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

Due to the detection of a new COVID variant, the British and French delegations have been reduced to a minimum, and fewer meetings and events will take place, Haaretz reported.

Negotiations between Iran and the world powers, including the UK, are due to resume in Vienna today.

READ: Germany calls on Iran to fully cooperate with IAEA

“Israel is very concerned that the US is setting the stage for what they call a ‘less for less’ agreement,” the Times of Israel reported an unnamed senior Israeli official saying. “Such an agreement would be detrimental and would only benefit the Iranian regime.”

According to the statement, Lapid will meet Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss today.

He is set to meet French President Emmanuel Macron and Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian today.