Israel says unaware of direct U.S.-Iran talks

JERUSALEM (AFP) ― Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he was unaware of any talks between the United States and Iran over the Islamic republic’s nuclear program.

“Israel doesn’t know about these contacts and I can’t confirm that they’ve actually taken place,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

“I can say that Iran used the talks and negotiations with the Five Powers to drag its feet and to gain time to advance its nuclear weapons program,” he added.

Deputy premier and senior cabinet minister Moshe Yaalon had told Israeli public radio on Sunday he was aware of U.S. attempts to directly negotiate with Iran over its nuclear program, but did not believe the talks had actually taken place.