Iran accuses Israel of poisoning nuclear talks
Iran's sharp rebuke followed reports that Israel had shared intelligence with Western partners alleging that Iran's nuclear enrichment has nearly reached weapons-producing levels.
The "Israeli regime … is trumpeting lies to poison Vienna talks," tweeted Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh on the eve of the fourth day of nuclear talks between Tehran and major powers in the Austria capital.
The stinging statement came in reaction to press reports earlier this week that Israel had provided the Western sides with intelligence that the Islamic Republic was inching closer to upgrading its nuclear enrichment to the 90% level needed to produce an atomic bomb.
Khatibzadeh dismissed such information as "fake news" aimed at torpedoing the talks meant to reinstate the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Under President Donald Trump, the United States walked away from the agreement but is now seeking reentry in the Vienna negotiations.
The Iranian diplomat did not specify whether such enrichment was in the pipeline. Iranian officials have previously declared that Tehran possesses the know-how to push enrichment to 90% but will not pursue nuclear weapons.
