Iran says Israel wants to ‘undermine’ nuclear talks with US: FM spokesman

TEHRAN: Iran accused Israel on Monday of seeking to “undermine” ongoing talks with the United States on its nuclear programme, a key point of tension with the West. “A kind of coalition is forming... to undermine and disrupt the diplomatic process,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei told reporters.

“Alongside it are a series of warmongering currents in the United States and figures from different factions,” the spokesman added.

Iran has always denied the charge, insisting its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. In 2018, Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a landmark nuclear deal signed three years earlier that eased sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear programme. A year later, Iran began to gradually breach the terms of the deal, most notably by enriching uranium to high levels.