Secret Documents Show Iran Had Nuclear Weapons Programme, Says Israeli Prime Minister

Cover Image: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking at the United Nations Headquarters in March (Pictures: PA Images) 

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu says his government has obtained "half a ton" of secret documents proving Iran once had a nuclear weapons programme.

Calling it a "great intelligence achievement" Mr Netanyahu said the documents show that Tehran lied about its nuclear ambitions before signing a 2015 deal with world powers.

Iran maintained that it had only been pursuing nuclear energy and has denied ever seeking nuclear weapons.

In a nationally televised address, Mr Netanyahu said Israel recently uncovered 55,000 pages, another 55,000 files and 183 CDs of information from Iran's "nuclear archives".

He said the material is filled with incriminating evidence showing the Iranian programme, called "Project Amad", was to develop a weapon.

President Donald Trump is to decide by May 12 whether to pull out of the international deal with Iran.

Mr Netanyahu has led calls for him to withdraw.

In a tweet, Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, accused Mr Netanyahu of "crying wolf" and was "fooling people."