Israel asks US for ‘military option’ against Iran in the face of imminent nuclear deal renewal

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz asked the United States to consider preparing a “military option” against Iran facilitate negotiations with Tehran as part of a possible return of the Islamic Republic to a nuclear agreement with the international community.

Gantz was actually upset at the time US withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal in 2018 understanding that Washington’s withdrawal did not provide any solution to negotiations to prevent Tehran’s development of nuclear weapons, which the Iranian authorities have always denied.

Now, after a “frank and positive” conversation at the White House with the national security adviser USAJake Sullivan, Ganz explained that Israel He is not opposed to signing the agreement, but demands a much more forceful version of it against the Iranian authorities, an Israeli Defense Ministry source told the Times of Israel on condition of anonymity.

Gantz, in particular, said that Israel had two main concerns about a potential deal: a so-called “expiration clause” that would lift restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program when the deal expires; and easing sanctions, allowing Iran to increase funding for armed groups that Israel considers terrorist.

“At least I think USA He listens to us, although, in the end, he does not listen to everything that we ask of him, ”explained this source in the Ministry of Defense. “We want an agreement, but a longer and stronger one,” he added.

For its part, the United States has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and guarantees that Iran never get a nuclear weapon.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi assured this Friday that the parties are “closer than ever” to resurrecting a nuclear deal with Iran after the US responded to the final text of the EU proposal. .

For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdolakhyan noted during a meeting with Zanzibar President Hossein Moini that Tehran had made “a lot of effort” to try to lift the sanctions.

Israel attacks pro-Iranian militants in Syria

Israel launched a missile attack on the positions of pro-Iranian militias stationed in the province of Hama in western Syria, amid escalating tensions between these armed groups and US forces in the Arab country, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Israeli fighter jets attacked a number of positions and warehouses belonging to “Iranian-backed militias” outside the city of Masyaf, a British non-governmental organization with a wide network of staff on the ground said in a statement.

(EuropePress)