Netanyahu accuses Iran of having secret atomic warehouse

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Thursday that Iran was concealing a “secret atomic warehouse” in Tehran and tore into European countries for turning a blind eye to Iranian nuclear activity.

The Associated Press reported that Netanyahu made the accusation during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. He held up maps and photos of what he claimed was a rug-cleaning operation being used as a front to house “massive amounts of equipment and material from Iran’s secret weapons program.”

{mosads}Netanyahu said Israel provided the information about the alleged warehouse with the International Atomic Energy Agency and some other intelligence agencies, the AP reported.

Iranian officials did not immediately respond to Netanyahu’s claims, according to media reports.

The prime minister went on to accuse European countries of “appeasing” Iran by continuing to do business with the country and remaining committed to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbing its nuclear program. 

Netanyahu, who has been among the most vocal international critics of the nuclear pact, previously raised evidence that he claimed showed Iran had continued to develop its nuclear arsenal despite the agreement.

While Netanyahu portrayed that April announcement as a “significant development” and further reason for the U.S. to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in 2011 that it had credible evidence showing Iran was doing nuclear weapons work under a structured program through 2003 and that work may have continued past that.

Days after Netanyahu’s announcement, the U.S. withdrew from the agreement. The Trump administration reimposed sanctions on Iran last month, with more expected to be implemented later this year.

In his speech to the U.N. General Assembly, President Trump lashed out at Iran and called on other nations to isolate the regime.

“We cannot allow the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism to possess the planet’s most dangerous weapons. We cannot allow a regime that chants ‘Death to America,’ and that threatens Israel with annihilation, to possess the means to deliver a nuclear warhead to any city on Earth,” Trump said. “Just can’t do it.”