Israeli officials arrive in the US for Iran talks: Reports
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Mossad and Israeli officials meet US counterparts as Trump and Netanyahu clash over Iran policy amid ongoing US-Iran nuclear talks.
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Ron Dermer, former Israeli Ambassador to the US, attends a special session, attends a special session of the Knesset to approve and swear in a new government, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022 (AP)
High-level Israeli chiefs have flown to Washington on Monday, to discuss the ongoing Iran-US talks with Trump's administration.
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad chief David Barnea arrived in Washington for discussions with US officials, Axios reported on Tuesday, citing officials, with Dermer expected to meet US Special Envoy Steven Witkoff and other officials, according to Israeli officials.
At the same time, US officials said the Mossad chief has already met with CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other officials to discuss US-Iran talks.
Iran and the US conducted five rounds of indirect talks on Tehran's nuclear program, mediated by Oman, with the latest session held in Rome on May 23, amid a widening rift between the US administration and its Israeli counterpart.
Trump, Netanyahu clash yet again
Israeli media reported that a tense phone call occurred on May 22 between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump regarding their approach to Iran.
According to Israeli Channel 12, the discussion involved sharp disagreements, with Trump reportedly telling Netanyahu he preferred a diplomatic solution with Iran, expressing confidence in his ability to broker a strong deal. The US president also emphasized his focus on reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.
Previously, Military analyst Alon Ben David warned of increasing Israeli unease over the US-Iran negotiations, noting that Washington has only shared vague, insubstantial updates with Israel, and emphasizing that the lack of detailed briefings has caused growing concern in Tel Aviv.
On May 5, NBC reported that disagreements are growing between Netanyahu and Trump, due to many differences in their approach towards handling regional issues, from the war on Gaza to Iran's nuclear program.
US and Middle Eastern officials familiar with the matter say Trump and Netanyahu now disagree on fundamental regional strategies. Netanyahu is pressing for stronger military action, including possible attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, while Trump is moving toward diplomacy and pursuing nuclear talks with Iran.
Iran warns 'Israel' of striking nuclear facilities
This comes as CNN and Axios reported earlier that "Israel" is preparing plans for a swift military operation targeting Iran's nuclear facilities should diplomatic efforts fail.
An Israeli official reportedly informed Axios that the timeframe for carrying out an effective strike might narrow soon, implying that "Israel" is weighing preemptive measures against Iran's nuclear activities, which are conducted within its sovereign rights and for peaceful purposes, even though no legal justification exists for such an attack.
Araghchi warns of attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities
In response to these threats, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a formal letter to the UN secretary-general and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warning that Iran may relocate its nuclear materials to protect them from potential Israeli attacks.
"Under conditions wherein threats made by the Zionist fanatics persist, the Islamic Republic of Iran shall be left with no recourse but to implement special measures for the protection of its nuclear facilities and materials, the relevant particulars of which shall thereafter be communicated to the IAEA," Araghchi wrote.
He also asserted that Iran's nuclear program remains peaceful and fully in line with IAEA safeguards, and stressed that any attempt to sabotage or attack Iran's facilities would be met with a decisive response.
