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Israel Institute urge NZ on Iran Nuclear Programme

Israel Institute urges Govt to help prevent Iran obtaining nuclear weapons

Israel Institute of New Zealand director, Dr David Cumin, is urging the New Zealand government to support actions that will prevent the Islamic Republic of Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to condemn them for the recent attack on Israel.

Dr Cumin was responding to a decision by the United States to withdraw from the deal negotiated by former President Obama. He says that the American decision could pave the way for robust measures that could truly stop the Islamic Republic of Iran from nuclear armament.

“The New Zealand government has, so far, not acknowledged any flaws in the Obama-negotiated Iran nuclear deal or commented on the recent revelations that Iran clearly lied to theInternational Atomic Energy Agency about their nuclear program. Statements from Ms Ardern that the nuclear deal has “provided a greater sense of security and stability in the Middle East” simply ignore the reality that Iran has spent billions of dollars embedding themselves in Syria and supporting terror groups - destabilising the Middle East and providing a much lower sense of security for Arab nations and Israel”.

Dr Cumin says that this is why Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States are supportive of the United States decision to withdraw from the region and why Iranians have taken to Twitter to thank Trump. He says this is because they realise that the deal was not benefiting the Iranian people, but emboldening Iran’s leadership to continue their terror activities and threaten the region.

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“Israel has attributed the recent missile attack on Israel from Syria, to Iran – a departure from their previous practice of using proxies to make such attacks. Iran also funds Hamas and Hezbollah - terror groups dedicated to the destruction of Israel. As a result, there are more than 150,000 missiles under homes and schools on the border of Israel and Lebanon, ready to fire on instructions from Iran”.

“Iran is also behind the bombing of Jewish and Israeli targets in Argentina and Bulgaria; and in April sent a drone with explosives into Israeli airspace. All of this is in keeping with their chants of genocidal intent for “death to America, death to Israel”.

Britain, Germany, and Bahrain are among countries that have condemned Iran for the military strike on Israel and defended Israel’s right to defend their nation. Dr Cumin says that New Zealand should also condemn Iran’s actions and consider if allowing them to acquire nuclear weapons is truly in the interests of the world. Recent Israeli intelligence shows that Iran is actively working to secure a nuclear warhead.

“The combination of a weapon of mass destruction and the intent to use it for ideological reasons is one that we should oppose through all means. The current Iran deal does little to stop the Supreme Leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran from achieving its goals of nuclear power and continuing support for terror”.

Dr Cumin also notes that French President Macron has expressed the need for an agreement that does not simply appease Iran, but instead ensures it does not arm itself with a nuclear weapon.

“We should be looking for a more robust measures to prevent those who chant for genocide the means to enact it. The US withdrawal provides that opportunity”.

Ends

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