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.



Ukraine Urges Investigation into Alleged Russian Chemical Weapons Use

The logo of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is seen during a special session in the Hague, Netherlands June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
The logo of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is seen during a special session in the Hague, Netherlands June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
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Ukraine Urges Investigation into Alleged Russian Chemical Weapons Use

The logo of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is seen during a special session in the Hague, Netherlands June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
The logo of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is seen during a special session in the Hague, Netherlands June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

Ukraine asked the global chemical weapons watchdog in The Hague on Tuesday to investigate the alleged use of banned toxic munitions by Russia against its forces.

A request to establish an investigation was submitted by Kyiv to the governing body of the organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

It followed Dutch and German intelligence agencies on Friday saying they had evidence of widespread use of illegal weapons by Russia along the frontline.

Agency chief Fernando Arias said in a statement to the OPCW's Executive Council that in view of the alleged frequent use of dangerous chemical agents his office would step up monitoring of activity along the Russia-Ukraine conflict line, Reuters reportf.

He invited Ukraine to discuss its proposal with member states, a majority of whom may be needed to support such an investigation.

The OPCW created a similar team in 2018 to examine accusations of chemical weapons use in Syria. The Investigation and Identification Team found that Syrian government forces and Islamic State militants had used banned chemical weapons in the civil war that began in March 2011. The United States first accused Russia in May last year of using chloropicrin, a chemical compound more toxic than riot control agents and first used by Germany during World War One. The OPCW, a disarmament agency in The Hague with 193 member states, said last year that initial accusations levelled by both countries at each other were "insufficiently substantiated".

Both sides have denied using chemical weapons in the conflict, which escalated when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

"Ukraine hereby requests the Director-General of the OPCW to take steps towards establishing an independent and impartial mechanism (to) investigate cases of alleged use of chemical weapons in Ukraine," a copy of the request shared with Reuters said.

It asked that the mechanism be empowered to "collect additional evidence and identify perpetrators, organisers, sponsors of such use."

It was submitted at the beginning of four days of closed-door meetings by the 41-country Executive Council of the OPCW. The disarmament body had no immediate comment on the request.

At least three Ukrainian deaths have been tied to chemical weapons use, the Dutch Military Intelligence Agency said, while more than 2,500 people injured on the battlefield reported chemical weapons-related symptoms to Ukrainian health authorities.

On Monday, Britain targeted two Russian individuals and one Russian entity as part of its chemical weapons sanctions regime, in its latest effort to punish Moscow for the war in Ukraine.