Perez, Obama Discuss Middle East, ’Israel’ Fears World Powers Softening on Iran’s Nuclear Program

Local Editor

"Israel" fears that the United States and other world powers are softening their stance on how many centrifuges Iran would be allowed to retain under a permanent deal on its nuclear program, the "Israeli" Haaretz website said on Wednesday.

"There is growing concern in Jerusalem that a deal is being hatched," Israel's Channel 2 news further reported.

On Wednesday, "Israeli" President Shimon Perez US President Barack Obama held talks concerning the Middle East at the White House in the United States.

Peres met with Obama as part of his farewell tour of the US capital, a month before he is due to leave office on July 27.

He told Obama that he is looking forward to being liberated from the "golden cage" of the "Israeli" presidency, to which Obama replied: "That's how I feel too."

Perez and his aides emphasized that Obama opened his meetings with an unequivocal condemnation of the alleged kidnapping of three Zionists who went missing in the occupied West Bank on June 12.

Perez expressed concern over Iran's nuclear program, saying that the nuclear issue of Iran should be dealt with "like Syria" - by removing "dangerous levels of enriched uranium" from its soil. He said that Obama had told him that there had been "progress" in the talks with Iran, but if no agreement is reached, the US will reinstall the sanctions regime as before.

Perez was pessimistic about the possibility that Iraq will stay united, saying that the Kurds have already set up a "democratic and independent" state that is supported by Turkey.

Moreover, Perez said the US administration should strengthen Abbas, who "risked his life" by roundly condemning the alleged kidnappings at the recent Arab League meeting.

He further said that the West should not take sides in the confrontation between Sunnis and Shiites in the Arab world. "This is something that the Arab League might do: they have the means and they have the forces."

He gave a parting tip to Obama on the Middle East: Stick with your friends, no matter how flawed they may be, so that they will help you fight your real enemies.

Support Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is a "courageous partner in peace," Perez said. Support newly-elected Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi who is "pro-American."

After meeting for almost three hours with Obama and his staff as well as with American Zionist leaders who had been previously scheduled to come to the White House, Perez went out to brief "Israeli" reporters and then the American press on his talks.

On the other hand, Obama did not agree to talk publicly at Perez' side or to make any statement at their joint photo-op.

Sources: News Agencies, Edited by website team