WarSclerotic

Israel was vexed to learn recently that the U.S. and Iran have been holding secret talks on the future of the Islamic republic’s nuclear program for over a year, Channel 10 reported Sunday

According to the report, learning of the secret “Geneva-bypass” channel has further strained the already tense relationship between Jerusalem and Washington, as Israel is concerned that most details of a future agreement with Tehran will be finalized behind the scenes, and not in Geneva.

Secret meetings have been held between Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Iranian nuclear program, and Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama, the report said. It said most of the meetings were held in the Persian Gulf.

Israel has made no secret of its dissatisfaction over the U.S.’s apparent favoring of a “softer” approach towards Iran, saying that the sanctions imposed on Iran by the West have been eroded before reaching their final goal.

Jerusalem sources told Channel 10 that they believe an agreement with Iran is “closer than ever” despite the apparent disagreements noted in Geneva last week.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNN on Sunday that the international community should “ratchet up the sanctions” on Iran rather than pursue what he stressed was an “extremely bad deal” with Iran.

In an interview with CNN’s chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley, Netanyahu warned that it would be wrong to prematurely ease the sanctions that could cause Iran to “cease and desist” its controversial nuclear program.

“Iran is really on the ropes, their economy is … close to paralysis, and all of a sudden, you take off the pressure; everybody will understand that you’re heading south,” he said.

“I think they [the West] should not only keep up the pressure, I think you should increase the pressure, because it’s finally working. And if you give it up now, when you have that pressure, and Iran doesn’t even take apart, dismantle one centrifuge, what leverage will you have when you ease the pressure?”

The prime minister is set to meet with several world leaders this week, to further urge them to draft a deal that would better ensure Iran’s relinquishment of its nuclear ambitions.

“If you do a bad deal, you may get to the point where your only option is a military option,” he told Crowley. “So, a bad deal actually can lead you to exactly the place you don’t want to be. I think if you want a peaceful solution as I do, then the right thing to do is ratchet up the sanctions.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is set to visit Israel again this week and is expected to arrive on Friday. Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu attempted to dispel reports of a rift between him and Kerry.

“The secretary of state is an old friend of mine and a dear friend to Israel. He is doing everything he can to promote the issue of peace and we will discuss if, of course, but we will also discuss the Iranian issue,” he said.

“I would like to make it clear that there can be disagreements even among the best of friends, certainly on issues related to our future and our fate. I hope that we will succeed in convincing our friends this week and in the days afterwards to achieve a much better agreement.”

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon also addressed the Iranian issue at an event honoring former Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, held Sunday at the Tel Aviv University: “We say that those who seek peace should be ready for war. If we have to confront [Iran] then so be it, as long as they don’t have military nuclear capabilities.”

Also on Sunday, Netanyahu, who will leave for a state visit on Moscow on Wednesday, named Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman as his deputy for the duration of his trip.