Netanyahu pulls out Iran props again during UN speech

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu pulled out the props again at the UN on Thursday, as he alleged that Iran was hosting a secret atomic warehouse.

Netanyahu followed what has become common practice for the premier, by using visual aids to describe to the UN General Assembly alleged plans by Tehran to develop nuclear weapons. He then vowed that Israel would never allow this to happen.

"[Iran] hasn't abandoned its goal to develop nuclear weapons," he told the UN.

"Israel will never let a regime that calls for our destruction to develop nuclear weapons. Not now, not in 10 years, not ever... Israel will do whatever it must do to defend itself against Iran's aggression," he added.

Netanyahu has focused repeatedly on Iran during his annual UN speeches, using props to bolster his claims. In one address he used a crude diagram of a bomb to illustrate just how "close" Iran was to building a nuke.

This time, he used images when he spoke to the global body.

"What Iran hides, Israel will find," he threatened. 

Israel was one of the few world powers to back US President Donald Trump's decision to walk away from a nuclear deal with Iran.

Netanyahu's term in office has seen tensions with Iran hit a new high, with constant attempts to stir up fears among the international community that Tehran is trying to build a nuclear bomb.

He added that it had "unintended consequence" of bringing Israel closer to some of its Arab neighbours.

During his speech on Thursday, the Israeli premier held up a map and a photograph of what he said looked like an "innocent looking compound".

He then urged the UN atomic agency to take a closer look and reveal its real purpose.

"Today I'm disclosing for the first time that Iran has another secret facility in Tehran, a secret atomic warehouse for storing massive amounts of equipment and material from Iran's secret nuclear weapons programme," he claimed.

He then raised an image he described as "a picture worth a thousand missiles" and titled it "Beirut Precision Guided Missile", claiming that Hizballah had positioned three missile sites near Beirut airport.

The Israeli leader then alleged that Iranian agents were plotting attacks in the US, Europe, and the Middle East. He added that the Iranian regime had been brutally oppressing its own people since the Islamic Revolution, four decades ago.

Netanyahu then pointed out Iran's involvement in wars in Iraq and Syria, was providing arms to Hizballah in Lebanon, backing Hamas in Gaza, and alleged Tehran is behind Yemeni missile attacks on Saudi Arabia.

He then went on to attack the EU's policy of "appeasement" with Iran - stirring up memories of Europe's refusal to confront Nazi Germany before the Second World War.

"Have these European leaders learnt nothing from history? Will they ever wake up? We in Israel don't need a wake-up call because Iran threatens us every day."

He then praised Trump's decision to withdraw from the nuclear agreement, saying Israel was "deeply grateful" for the move.

He added that it had "unintended consequence" of bringing Israel closer to some of its Arab neighbours, likely referring to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE who have all established close links with the country.

"By empowering Iran, it brought Israel and many Arab states closer together than ever before... in an intimacy and friendship that I've not seen in my lifetime and would have been unimaginable a few years ago."