Obama calls Israeli PM on Iran nuclear talks

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Obama calls Israeli PM on Iran nuclear talks

(Xinhua) 09:24, November 09, 2013

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Michael Mann, spokesperson of European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, speaks during a press conference in Geneva, Nov. 7, 2013. Complicated talks on Iran nuclear program are getting into a "a serious phase," European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Thursday through her spokesperson. Michael Mann, Ashton's spokesperson, told a press conference that "concrete progress" is hoped from ongoing talks between the P5+1 (Britain, China, France, Russia, United States plus Germany) and Iran. (Xinhua/Wang Siwei)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -- U.S. President Barack Obama called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday to discuss ongoing negotiations on Iran's controversial nuclear program, the White House said.

Obama updated Netanyahu on the negotiations between major world powers and Iran in Geneva and underscored his strong commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, which is the aim of the ongoing negotiations, it said in a statement.

"The President and Prime Minister agreed to continue to stay in touch on this issue," it added.

Delegates of the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, known as the P5+1 group, are negotiating with Iran in a new round of nuclear talks in Geneva, Switzerland. They are considering easing limited sanctions on Iran in exchange for concrete steps to halt nuclear activities.

Speaking at a meeting with U.S. congressmen in Jerusalem on Thursday evening, Netanyahu said that accepting such a deal with Iran will be "a mistake of historic proportions."

"This is the deal of the century for Iran," because Tehran does not forfeit anything, Netanyahu said. In the best case scenario, " Iran will stop enriching uranium for a few days, but the entire momentum of the international sanctions will be lost," he said.

Accusing Tehran of seeking to build atomic weapons, Israel has repeatedly warned that it might strike Iran if it did not halt its nuclear program. Iran insists that its nuclear facilities are geared only to civilian needs.

In response, the White House said on Friday any critique of a proposed deal between world powers and Iran on its nuclear program is "premature."

"One thing that's important for everybody to understand is that there is no deal," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest, adding that Secretary of State John Kerry had traveled to Geneva to " narrow the differences" between the P5+1 and Iran.

（Editor：DuMingming、Yao Chun）