IRAN - Mossad Chief on Nuclear Deal

"Expecting Iran to cheat is why we need this deal, says former Mossad chief" PBS NewsHour 8/21/2015

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Efraim Halevy, former director of Israel’s intelligence and special operations agency Mossad, is breaking with his country's government and public opinion to support the Iran nuclear agreement.  He joins Judy Woodruff from Tel Aviv to discuss his stance.

JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour):  Tonight, we continue our series of conversations on the agreement as part of our Deal or No Deal series.

Earlier this week, we heard from an Israeli scientist who was opposed to the deal.

This evening, we hear from the former head of Israel’s intelligence and special operations agency, the Mossad, Efraim Halevy, who is breaking with his country’s government and public opinion to support the agreement.

Mr. Halevy, thank you very much for being with us.

Given that you disagree with your government, why do you?  What do you see in this agreement that makes you support it?

EFRAIM HALEVY, Former Director, Mossad:  I believe this agreement closes the roads and blocks the road to Iranian nuclear military capabilities for at least a decade.

And I believe that the arrangements that have been agreed between the parties are such that give us a credible answer to the Iranian military threat, at least for a decade, if not longer.

JUDY WOODRUFF:  You have said that this agreement is historic from the Iranian point of view.  What did you mean by that?

EFRAIM HALEVY:  Up to a couple of years ago, the Iranians refused to discuss their nuclear programs on the basis of a negotiation, international negotiations.  They said that this was their sovereign right to do whatever they wished.

They have caved in.  They have entered into a detailed discussion of their capabilities.  They have agreed to an agreement which lists their various facilities in Iran.  They have agreed to knocking out the first and foremost important element in it, their location in Arak, which is a plutogenic-producing facility in potential.

The core of this particular aspect is going to be destroyed.  And that means that there will be no capability of the Iranians to ultimately weaponize whatever they are doing for the purposes of attacking anybody around the world for the next decade.  If only for that element alone, I would say this is an agreement worthwhile accepting.