Gantz meets US CENTCOM chief in Florida to discuss cooperation, Iran

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Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz met with the US Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla in Tampa, Florida.

As nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers heat up, the two discussed ways to expand collaboration between "Israel" and the US military, as well as strategies for fighting the so-called Iranian "threat" in the Middle East.

With the US responding to Iran's newest requests on Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry verified receiving the response and studying it.

"I am completing a successful visit to CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa," tweeted Gantz. "During the visit we held significant discussions on strengthening the security cooperation between Israel, the US and the countries of the region in the face of Iranian aggression."

Gantz, following his top military meeting, said he is off to Washington next to meet with "National Security Advisor [Jake] Sullivan. I will discuss with him ways to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons."

Gantz discussed with Kurilla Israeli-American military cooperation on Iran in both an agreement and no deal scenario.

"Iran's nuclear rush must be significantly scaled back," said Gantz. "The financing of its affiliates in the region should be disconnected from the Iranian Rial pipeline. We will discuss the issue with the Americans, and at the same time, Israel will continue to build its strength and capabilities - so that in any situation, it will know how to defend itself."

Tehran; a threat to "Israel"

Tensions are mounting in the relationship between the Israeli occupation and the United States amid reported progress in efforts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, Axios reported.

"A deal might be closer than it was two weeks ago but the outcome remains uncertain as some gaps remain. In any case, it doesn’t seem to be imminent," a US official told Axios on Saturday.

There has been "intense" dialogue behind closed doors between "Israel" and the US in recent days, with the discussion becoming "more difficult", according to Israeli officials cited by Axios. 

White House officials have been trying to reassure their Israeli counterparts that there have been no new concessions to Iran, Axios said citing US officials.

However, senior Israeli officials said that Israeli occupation Prime Minister Yair Lapid told the White House that the EU draft goes beyond the 2015 deal and crosses the Biden administration’s red lines.