Spy cables show Netanyahu's Iran claims rejected by Mossad
Leaked cables purport to show that claims made by Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Iran's uranium enrichment programme were
rejected by Mossad, his own intelligence agency.
Netanyahu had claimed at the United Nations in 2012 that
Iran was just one year away from making a nuclear bomb, reports dpa.
But the secret spy cables, which were reported Monday by the
Guardian newspaper and broadcaster Al Jazeera, appear to show Mossad claiming
that Iran was not enriching at levels needed to produce weapons.
The news organizations say Mossad's assessment was shared
with South Africa's State Security Agency, from which the cables were obtained.
Netanyahu is due to address Congress on March 3 about the
Iranian nuclear issue, though the invitation extended by the Republican party
leadership has upset many Democrats.
President Barack Obama has said he would not meet Netanyahu
so close to Israel's election later in March.
The US is leading international negotiation efforts to
ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons, with the world's six powers hoping
to strike a deal in the first half of the year.
Israeli media quoted officials as saying that the cables'
content does not contradict Netanyahu's public statements, though they did not
elaborate.
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