The Hebrew magazine Epoch has revealed, citing prominent security officials, that Qatar is leading a new initiative against “Israel” and is demanding that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) impose surveillance on Israeli nuclear facilities, calling for the inspection of Israeli nuclear sites.
The magazine quoted senior Israeli political sources, stating that Qatar is coordinating with Iran and seeking to create an international demand for the disarmament of Israel’s nuclear weapons before addressing the Iranian nuclear threat.
The report highlighted that this Qatari request was presented just a few days ago in a speech delivered by Qatari Ambassador Jassim Yaqub Al-Hamadi during a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna, held on March 9th of this year.
The Qatari ambassador, in his speech, called for surveillance over all Israeli nuclear facilities and for Israel to be obligated to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a non-nuclear state.
He pointed out that several international resolutions stress the need for Israeli nuclear facilities to be subject to international inspection, in addition to Israel signing the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty, noting that Tel Aviv “is the only country that has not joined this treaty.”
This comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that there are two ways to deal with Iran: militarily or through an agreement to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Trump further stated, “I said that I hope they will negotiate, because it would be much better for Iran,” adding that he believes they “want to receive that message.” He stated, “The other alternative is for us to do something because you can’t allow another nuclear weapon.”
Trump’s remarks came as his administration increased pressure on Tehran through renewed economic sanctions and enforcement measures targeting Iranian oil exports.
In response, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei commented on Trump’s statements regarding nuclear negotiations, saying, “Tehran will not negotiate under the pressure of any country that practices bullying,” as he put it.
