Tensions between US, "Israel" over progress in nuclear deal: Axios

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
21 Aug 2022 09:22
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Despite reassurances from the US, the Israeli occupation is concerned over the progress of the Iranian nuclear deal.

US President Joe Biden and Israeli occupation Prime Minister Yair Lapid (Archive)

Tensions are mounting in the relation 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.

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

Israeli officials "very concerned"

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 Thursday 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 own red lines.

Axios cited one Israeli official as saying: "We are not reassured. We are very concerned." But Lapid has no intention of going against Biden over the Iranian nuclear deal, said the news website.

"Our policy is not to reach a public confrontation with the US like the one that has taken place in 2015. We will not ruin the relationship with the Biden administration like Netanyahu did with Obama," a senior Israeli official indicated.

Biden administration not prepared to give new concessions

Jim Risch, a senate foreign relations committee ranking member, has suggested on social media that the US was considering providing Iran with guarantees that included ending the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) probe, protecting Western companies, and allowing Iran to accelerate its nuclear program if a future administration exits the deal.

The White House National Security Council (NSC) said in multiple statements that the Biden administration is not prepared to give Tehran new concessions to revive the Iran nuclear deal, as alleged in various reports.

It is noteworthy that Israeli national security adviser Eyal Hulata will meet his American counterpart Jake Sullivan in Washington next Tuesday, as Israeli officials expect more tough discussions.

On her part, White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson stated that "We are in intensive and constant discussions with Israel on Iran. National Security Adviser Hulata is coming next week to Washington. There is no greater supporter of Israel’s security than President Biden."

On Wednesday, former National Security Adviser John Bolton warned that US President Joe Biden could make a grave mistake if his administration offers a concession to Iran that guarantees that a future US president would be restricted from pulling out of a renewed JCPOA.

Some Israelis claim nuclear deal in "Israel's" benefit

On the other hand, several current and former senior Israeli security and intelligence officials believe that signing a nuclear deal would, in one way or another, benefit the Israeli occupation.

In recent months, the head of Israeli military intelligence, Aharon Haliva, told the security cabinet that a return to the 2015 nuclear deal would serve "Israel’s" interests.

In the same context, Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz said in private that the current undecided situation with Iran is worse than a return to the JCPOA.

Similarly, the former head of Israeli military intelligence, Tamir Hayman, tweeted Friday that the nuclear deal being discussed is bad, but still necessary to reduce Iran's nuclear program and give the Israeli occupation time to prepare for a military option.

US studying Iran's response

The State Department confirmed on Tuesday that the Biden administration received Iran's comments on the European Union's proposal to revive the agreement and that it is in the process of studying Tehran's response.

Iran sent its response to the proposed text of a draft agreement to restore the nuclear deal to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell at the start of this week.

According to US media reports, the EU received Iran's response on Monday night. Tehran's stance reportedly mostly concerns sanctions and guarantees around economic engagement.

In 2015, Iran signed the JCPOA with the P5+1 group of countries (the United States, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom - plus Germany) and the European Union.

It required Iran to scale back its nuclear program and severely downgrade its uranium reserves in exchange for sanctions relief, including lifting the arms embargo five years after the deal's adoption.

However, in 2018, the US under Trump abandoned its conciliatory stance on Iran, withdrawing from the JCPOA and implementing hard-line policies against Tehran. In April 2021, the parties to the agreement began negotiations to restore the nuclear deal, working in Vienna.