Netanyahu to Prod Kerry on Iran After Vatican Visit Scrapped

By Jonathan Ferziger - Oct 22, 2013

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, mistrustful of warming ties between world powers and Iran, flies to Rome today to discuss Iranian nuclear talks and Middle East peace efforts with Secretary of State John Kerry.

While Netanyahu had planned to meet Pope Francis, he had to scrap the visit after the Vatican said busy schedules wouldn’t permit it this time. Kerry’s travels through Europe still allow the Israeli leader to express his opposition to easing sanctions against Iran and doubts about resolving Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians.

“He will remain the skeptical observer on the Obama administration’s warming to Iran while seeking to relieve some of the pressure Kerry is exerting to make concessions to the Palestinians,” said Benedetta Berti, a research fellow at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies.

In Moscow yesterday, Russia’s chief negotiator at the talks said Iran and world powers may strike an accord allowing the Islamic republic to continue enriching uranium up to 5 percent purity. That level would require more time to turn into weapons-grade material than the 20 percent enriched uranium Iran is also producing. A Netanyahu spokesman, Mark Regev, said the Israeli leader would comment on that in Rome.

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-22/netanyahu-to-prod-kerry-on-iran-after-vatican-visit-scrapped.html