Israel’s nuclear demand not part of Iran deal: US

US President Barack Obama has denied a call by Israel for any nuclear agreement with Iran to be dependent on Tehran’s acceptance of the Jewish state’s right to exist, marking it a “fundamental misjudgement”.

After Israel proposed its own terms for the deal, Obama informed US radio network NPR yesterday that demands for Iran to identify the country go beyond the scope of the agreement.

Intelligence minister Yuval Steinitz told journalists that while an earlier assurance by Obama to back Israel’s security was cherished, it did not exceed the potential threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. Steinitz said “If Iran will produce nuclear weapons, this is an existential threat to Israel”.