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CIA Chief Secretly Visits Israel Ahead of Anticipated Iran Nuclear Deal

© AFP 2023 / Jewel SamadCIA Director John Brennan
CIA Director John Brennan - Sputnik International
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US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan secretly visited Israel last week to discuss the much anticipated deal between Iran and six world powers on Tehran's controversial nuclear program, Haaretz reported Tuesday, citing senior Israeli officials.

CIA Director nominee John Brennan testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. File photo - Sputnik International
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) The visit came about a month before the end-of-June deadline to sign a comprehensive agreement that would ensure the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the visit's secrecy, told the newspaper that Brennan met with members of Mossad, Israeli intelligence agency, including its head Tamir Pardo, as well as with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen.

Jerusalem and Washington are acutely divided on the issue of Iran's nuclear program agreement.

Netanyahu, who strongly opposes the deal, has repeatedly stated that concessions offered to Tehran by the six world powers, including the United States, endanger Israel, the Middle East and the world as a whole.

US President Barack Obama said in a recent interview with Israeli Channel 2, that a comprehensive nuclear deal is the best way to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Haaretz added that Brennan also discussed broader regional security issues with Israeli officials, coming after Netanyahu's recent allegations about Iran's increasing involvement in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

For over ten years, the P5+1 countries, comprising Russia, the United States, China, France, the United Kingdom and Germany have been trying to convince Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program, fearful that it is developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian program.

On April 2, the P5+1 group and Iran reached a framework agreement on the issue. The deadline for a final deal is July 1, 2015.

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