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As Iran Deal Takes Shape, Israel Emphasizes Regional Common Ground

(Reuters) Luke Baker and Dan Williams - With a deal on Iran's nuclear program drawing near, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, Prime Minister Netanyahu's lead official on the issue, told Reuters this week: "We are very worried. What we are seeing is a certain crumbling, or signs of a crumbling, even in the clauses that had looked very clear and settled," suggesting a harder U.S. line was needed on inspections. All of the region's Sunni Arab powers oppose Tehran's backing of Shi'ite groups in the region. "There hasn't been a time when our interests and those of moderate Arab states have overlapped as much as they do now," said a senior Israeli official. "There is a very strong coincidence of interests and that has allowed for regional dialogue." "Indirect secret cooperation vis-a-vis Iran is happening with these countries and there is the possibility to deepen it," said Haim Tomer, a former head of international operations at Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence agency. He added that any coordination would remain "under the table."
2015-06-19 00:00:00
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