Netanyahu to meet Merkel for talks on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on a four-day tour of Germany, France and Britain, with his main focus being to urge action against Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin as part of a four-day tour of Germany, France and Britain.

The meeting is the first between the two leaders since US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal last month.

The Israeli premier said on Sunday he would discuss with Merkel as well as French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May ways to continue "to block Iran's nuclear program."

The Israeli premier has long been at odds with Merkel over the 2015 deal.

After Trump scrapped the agreement, Germany - along with the four other signatures to the deal, France, Britain, Russia and China - is attempting to preserve the agreement despite the renewal of US sanction on companies doing business with Iran.

Netanyahu is also seeking to rally world leaders against Iran's military presence in Syria and Israel's ability to operate against Iran in Syria.

"I will also insist on a basic principle: Israel retains and will continue to retain freedom of action against the establishment of an Iranian military presence anywhere in Syria," Netanyahu said at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu accuses Tehran of seeking to attack Israel from Syria, while Iranian leaders say that are acting in Syria on behalf of the Syrian government.

Last month the Israeli army said Iran fired 20 rockets into the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights and Israel retaliated by bombing dozens of Iranian targets in Syria.


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Source: AAP


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