US, Israel Discuss Expanding Cooperation on Iran

Israel’s National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata (L) and his US counterpart, Jake Sullivan, meet in October. (Jake Sullivan via Twitter)
Israel’s National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata (L) and his US counterpart, Jake Sullivan, meet in October. (Jake Sullivan via Twitter)
TT
20

US, Israel Discuss Expanding Cooperation on Iran

Israel’s National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata (L) and his US counterpart, Jake Sullivan, meet in October. (Jake Sullivan via Twitter)
Israel’s National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata (L) and his US counterpart, Jake Sullivan, meet in October. (Jake Sullivan via Twitter)

Israel’s National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata has announced that talks with his US counterpart, Jake Sullivan, are part of deepening strategic coordination between Tel Aviv and Washington on Iran’s nuclear program.

Hulata stressed that Israel “is trying to expand interest in Iran’s nuclear file so that it includes other issues related to Iranian arms in the region and hegemony schemes.” He also said he would discuss other matters during his trip to Washington, including deepening and expanding the Abraham Accords.

He kicked off his trip on Tuesday.

The top security official had participated in a security briefing with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on the eve of his trip to Washington.

He said that he and Sullivan have almost daily conversations by phone, but “sometimes it is necessary to meet face to face.”

He confirmed that his trip was planned, “but it became more urgent in wake of the phone call between Bennett and US President Joe Biden, two days ago.”

Hulata admitted that there are differences with Washington on several issues, but said that “coordination is deep, important and strategic and we are working on it.”

“Coordination with the US is an essential element that the Prime Minister insisted on from the first moment. It is no secret that Israel and the United States do not agree on the Iranian issue, especially when it comes to the nuclear deal,” said Hulata.

“There is a danger that after returning to the deal and lifting sanctions, the US will lose the tools that would allow it to impose a longer and stronger agreement on Iran,” warned Hulata.



Kremlin Says Ukraine Peace Talks in Türkiye Are Still on, but Doesn’t Say Who Is Going 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reacts as he attends a meeting between Russia's President and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Moscow on May 10, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. (AFP)
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reacts as he attends a meeting between Russia's President and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Moscow on May 10, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. (AFP)
TT
20

Kremlin Says Ukraine Peace Talks in Türkiye Are Still on, but Doesn’t Say Who Is Going 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reacts as he attends a meeting between Russia's President and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Moscow on May 10, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. (AFP)
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reacts as he attends a meeting between Russia's President and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Moscow on May 10, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. (AFP)

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that a Russian delegation will be in Istanbul on Thursday for possible direct peace talks with Ukraine, but did not disclose who would be there from Moscow's side.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in the early hours of Sunday proposed direct negotiations in Türkiye on Thursday "without any preconditions," but he did not say who would attend from Moscow's side.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said he would attend the talks with Russia only if Putin is also there.

Unconfirmed Russian and US media reports have reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy aide, will be in Istanbul and ready to meet their Ukrainian counterparts.

Asked by reporters in a daily briefing on Wednesday if the Kremlin could reveal the make-up of the Russian delegation, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We will do that when we get an instruction to do so from the president."

But Peskov said that Putin's offer of direct talks with Ukraine "remained valid."

"The Russian delegation will be waiting for the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul on May 15", Peskov said.

The planned talks have become the main focus of peace efforts led by US President Donald Trump.

Trump has said he will send Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg to the talks, while also offering to attend himself.