Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in Switzerland attending the World Economic Forum conference in Davos, said Wednesday that the world powers that negotiated a landmark nuclear agreement with Iran in 2015 must introduce "real – not just cosmetic – changes" that will prevent the Islamic republic from becoming a nuclear power.
Netanyahu met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of conference, telling reporters after the meeting that Merkel had "said that she understands our concerns regarding the nuclear agreement, even though she does not necessarily agree with the way in which we want to confront them."
The German government confirmed for the first time Wednesday that top-level consultations were being held in London on the matter and that German, French and British experts were discussing the matter with their American and Iranian counterparts.
"I said that, in my opinion, the only option at the moment is to put in real – not just cosmetic – changes that will prevent Iran from going nuclear, which would otherwise be assured by the agreement as it stands," Netanyahu said, noting the meeting, the first in six months, was "very important."
The German chancellor "understands that this touches on our concerns, the things that could threaten our very existence," he noted, adding that Merkel has "proven this commitment in the past at various opportunities. I am satisfied that our positions have been well understood."
Officials in Berlin later stressed that while Merkel said "she understands Israel's general concerns regarding Iran," Germany "stands fully behind the nuclear deal."
The prime minister also discussed the demand to improve the 2015 pact during his meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Swiss President Alain Berset, French President Emmanuel Macron and Belgian PM Charles Michel.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said Netanyahu called on the leaders to "take advantage of the opportunity created by [U.S. President Donald] Trump's announcement that he would give world powers another six months to change the agreement before deciding to impose new sanctions on Iran."
Netanyahu also reiterated his oft-repeated assertion that Israel will "not allow Iran to establish military bases in Syria," the statement said.
Netanyahu was scheduled to meet Thursday with Trump, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
He is also scheduled to meet with the heads of a number of major corporations, with whom he plans to discuss bolstering trade, commerce and technological collaborations.
According to the Prime Minister's Office, Netanyahu has invited world and business leaders to visit Israel.
