Iran on Sunday denied reports suggesting that it has reached a two-year interim agreement with world powers over its nuclear program.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The London-based Rai al-Youm daily said that Vienna talks were successful in producing such a blueprint, saying the planned deal would see the United States lift all of the crippling sanctions imposed on the Islamic republic, which, in return, would transport all of its enriched uranium to Russia.
It said that the Kremlin would "serve as the guarantor of the agreement."
Lebanon's Al Mayadeen TV, which is affiliated with the Iranian-backed Shiite terrorist group Hezbollah, aired a report featuring similar details.
"The report is totally wrong and fake," an Iranian official said on Sunday night.
Iranian's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian did not comment on the reports, saying only that the parties were "approaching a good agreement."
"The initiatives of the Iranian side and the negotiations that have taken place have put us on the right track," state news agency IRNA cited the foreign minister as saying.
"We are close to a good agreement, but to reach this good agreement in the short term, it must be pursued by the other side," he said.
Amir-Abdollahian further rejected accusations by the West that Iran was trying to drag out the negotiations.
It is "important for us to defend the rights and interests of our country", he said.
He accused the US of making "unacceptable demands," but said that over the weekend, the Americans have "adapted to the realities" of the situation. … At the end of the day, a good deal is an agreement that satisfies all parties."
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hinted at the Vienna talks in an address to the nation Sunday, saying, "Not surrendering to an arrogant enemy is one of the principles of the revolution.
"To negotiate, discuss, or sometimes interact with the enemy is another matter. … We have not surrendered until today, and God willing, this will be the case in the future."
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett responded to the reports on Monday, saying that Israel was "concerned" by the nature of the talks.
"We are not a party to this agreement and we are not bound by anything it says if it is finalized. Israel will continue to reserve its full operational leeway, anywhere and at any time."
He told his cabinet that Iran "remains our top challenge. We face Iran and its proxies daily, on all borders, and we are making the change into a concept of an ongoing offensive, not just ongoing defense measures."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
