IRAN’S breakthrough deal with the West on its nuclear programme was met yesterday with wild cheers at home and threats of a atomic arms race from Israel.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his team were greeted by crowds waving flags and shouting as they passed Tehran’s Mehr Abad airport on their way home from negotiations.

In brief remarks at the airport, Mr Zarif praised Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for “his remarkable support for the negotiating team and his guidance” in the talks.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his cabinet was united in “strongly opposing” the emerging agreement and demanding that any final deal contained Iranian recognition of Israel’s right to exist.

“Israel will not accept an agreement which allows a country that vows to annihilate us to develop nuclear weapons, period,” said the increasingly isolated prime minister.

He claimed the outline deal would threaten Israel’s survival.

“Such a deal does not block Iran’s path to the bomb,” he said. “It paves Iran’s path to the bomb.

“It might very well spark a nuclear arms race throughout the Middle East and would greatly increase the risks of terrible war.

“The deal would legitimise Iran’s illegal nuclear programme and leave Iran with a vast nuclear infrastructure in place.”

But, reading out a statement on Thursday evening, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini insisted that a “decisive step” had been achieved.

“This is a crucial decision laying the agreed basis for the final text of a joint comprehensive plan of action,” she said.

“We can now start drafting the text and annexes.”

Ms Mogherini has acted as a co-ordinator for the six powers in talks with Iran — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US.

US President Barack Obama has hailed the deal as the moment that Washington and its Western allies “reached a historic understanding with Iran.”

However, the White House still faces the challenge of convincing Israel’s Republican allies in Congress.

by Our Foreign Desk