The United Nations’s nuclear agency on Tuesday rejected claims from Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu that Iran’s government is conducting nuclear weapons research in secret.
In an assessment released Tuesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency wrote that there is “no credible indications” to support claims that Iran was continuing its “coordinated” nuclear weapons program after 2009, The Associated Press reports.
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Netanyahu made the claims Monday in a speech in Tel Aviv as part of his effort to urge President Trump to scrap the Iran nuclear deal, signed in 2015 under the Obama administration, which was meant to ensure Iran does not complete development of a nuclear weapon.
Critics say the deal is too weak and has led to Iran pursuing the weapons in secrecy.
On Monday, Netanyahu called the deal “terrible” and urged Trump to do the “right thing” and exit the agreement with Iran.
“This is a terrible deal. It should never have been concluded, and in a few days time, President Trump will decide, will make his decision on what to do with the nuclear deal,” Netanyahu said.
“I’m sure he’ll do the right thing. The right thing for the United States, the right thing for Israel and the right thing for the peace of the world.”
During the speech, Netanyahu referenced what he said was a trove of more than 100,000 documents compiled by Israel’s intelligence agencies about Iran’s nuclear program, which he claims is ongoing.
Iranian officials hit back at Netanyahu in a statement released on social media.
“BREAKING: The boy who can’t stop crying wolf is at it again. Undeterred by cartoon fiasco at [the United Nations General Assembly]. You can only fool some of the people so many times,” Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted.