Sullivan Reassures Israel as US Seeks to Conclude Nuclear Deal with Iran

Sullivan speaks at a press conference at the White House on January 13, 2022. (Reuters)
Sullivan speaks at a press conference at the White House on January 13, 2022. (Reuters)
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Sullivan Reassures Israel as US Seeks to Conclude Nuclear Deal with Iran

Sullivan speaks at a press conference at the White House on January 13, 2022. (Reuters)
Sullivan speaks at a press conference at the White House on January 13, 2022. (Reuters)

The United States’ stressed that while it remains committed to diplomacy as the best means for preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, it is preparing alternative options, in coordination with its partners, should diplomacy fail, a top US diplomat assured Israel.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and his Israeli counterpart Dr. Eyal Hulata met on Wednesday as part of the US-Israel Strategic Consultative Group (SCG), said a White House statement.

“They were joined by senior representatives from their respective foreign policy, defense, and intelligence agencies,” it added.

The two sides discussed upcoming military training exercises, without revealing whether these exercises simulate the scenario of an attack against Iranian facilities.

According to US officials, the meeting came in light of news on a proposal by Russia to sign an interim agreement with Iran, raising concerns in Israel.

The interim deal would be part of JCPOA framework rather than an independent agreement, as efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between world powers and Tehran are at a standstill.

The officials linked the proposal to the resignation of Richard Nephew, the US Deputy Special Envoy for Iran, and the boycott of two other members of the US delegation to the Vienna talks. The members have refused to make “substantial” concessions that may lead to giving Tehran the opportunity to obtain better terms and release millions of its dollars in assets that have been so far frozen due to sanctions, putting US national security at risk.

Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are said to be playing a role in mitigating the “concessions” offered by Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley, to reassure the Israelis that reaching an agreement with Iran “will not be at their expense.”

Last week, Blinken warned there was only a brief window to bring talks to save the nuclear deal to a successful conclusion.



White House: Trump to Decide on US Action in Israel-Iran Conflict Within 2 Weeks

First responders inspect a heavily-damaged building at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba in southern Israel following an Iranian missile attack on June 19, 2025. (Photo by MAYA LEVIN / AFP)
First responders inspect a heavily-damaged building at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba in southern Israel following an Iranian missile attack on June 19, 2025. (Photo by MAYA LEVIN / AFP)
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White House: Trump to Decide on US Action in Israel-Iran Conflict Within 2 Weeks

First responders inspect a heavily-damaged building at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba in southern Israel following an Iranian missile attack on June 19, 2025. (Photo by MAYA LEVIN / AFP)
First responders inspect a heavily-damaged building at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba in southern Israel following an Iranian missile attack on June 19, 2025. (Photo by MAYA LEVIN / AFP)

The White House said on Thursday that President Donald Trump will make a decision on whether the US will get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict in the next two weeks.

Citing a message from Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: "Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks."

Trump said Wednesday he doesn’t want to carry out a US strike on Iran but suggested he stands ready to act if it’s necessary to extinguish Iran’s nuclear program.

Russia warned the US against entering the Israel-Iran conflict.

“US military interference would be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

The comments come after Iran’s state media said the country’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet with European counterparts in Geneva on Friday.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot did not confirm the Geneva meeting.

The message from Iranian authorities was “relatively clear: there is a willingness to resume talks, including with the United States, provided that a ceasefire can be reached,” Barrot told a news conference in Paris.

Barrot said that France and Europeans partners are ready to “resume negotiations” with Iran.