US to tell "Israel" it adheres to nuclear diplomacy with Iran: Israeli media
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The US Defense Secretary receives the Israeli Security Minister at the Pentagon to discuss the Iranian nuclear file; Israeli media indicate that Washington will reiterate its desire to maintain diplomacy with Tehran.
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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz
Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz said Thursday he "looks forward to deepening dialogue with a particular focus on the developing challenge vis-à-vis the Iranian nuclear program and its regional aggression."
On his account, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin voiced concern about "Iran's lack of constructive diplomatic engagement" and warned that US President Joe Biden was "prepared to turn to other options" if the current US policy on Iran fails.
Reuters quoted a US official as saying Israeli officials in Washington were expected to discuss possible military exercises that would prepare for a "worst-case scenario" to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities should diplomacy fail.
The source, on condition of anonymity, said the scheduled US talks with Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz follow a briefing by Pentagon leaders to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on the available military options that ensure that Iran does not weaponize its nuclear program.
Israeli media reported that the Mossad Chief provided the Americans with "updated intel on Iran," and the security minister was expected to warn against the progress of the nuclear program during his visit to the United States on Thursday. The US official refused to offer further details on the expected military exercises.
"We're in this pickle because Iran's nuclear program is advancing to a point beyond which it has any conventional rationale," the official claimed, while still voicing hope for discussions.
Israeli Channel 13's Gil Tamary said the Americans would tell Gantz they were adhering to diplomacy and have no intention of setting a deadline.
"The US will press Israel to understand that Iran possesses the key to the nuclear deal and when it is ready to return to the agreement with seriousness; the US will be ready to finalize the deal", he further added.
However, "the Americans are ready to tighten sanctions enforcement on Iran," Tamary further stressed.
He added that "the Americans need to understand if there is a different tone between Gantz and Bennett; Bennett says no to the agreement, while Gantz believes that a bad deal with Iran is better than no deal at all."
