Netanyahu unveils Iran 'secret nuclear files' as US approaches

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had new "proof" of an Iranian nuclear weapons plan that could be activated at any time, as the US considered whether to pull out of the atomic accord with Tehran.

The documents released by Israel on Monday were "authentic," according to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, until last week director of the CIA.

As he returned from a trip to meet Netanyahu, Pompeo said much of the information they contained was new to American experts.

In an elaborate televised presentation that included props, video and slides, Netanyahu accused Iran of lying about its nuclear ambitions, but he did not provide evidence that Israel's main enemy had actively worked to obtain an atomic weapon since the 2015 agreement between Tehran and six world powers.

Iran has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reacted to the latest claims by lambasting both Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, who has a May 12 deadline to decide whether to walk away from the nuclear deal.

Trump reiterated his aversion to the "horrible" deal, highlighting provisions in the agreement restricting Iran's nuclear activities that begin expiring in 2025.

"In seven years, that deal will have expired and Iran is free to go ahead and create nuclear weapons," Trump told a joint press conference with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari.

While most world powers say the deal is working as intended for now and is the best way to keep Iran from acquiring the bomb, Trump has been threatening to pull out for months.

(AFP)