Gantz Demands US Retains ‘Military Option’ to Deter Iran

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz inspecting the K-135 air refueling unit at the US Central Command headquarters in Florida
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz inspecting the K-135 air refueling unit at the US Central Command headquarters in Florida
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Gantz Demands US Retains ‘Military Option’ to Deter Iran

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz inspecting the K-135 air refueling unit at the US Central Command headquarters in Florida
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz inspecting the K-135 air refueling unit at the US Central Command headquarters in Florida

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that the United States needs to maintain a viable "military option" against Iranian nuclear facilities, even if a new agreement is reached with Tehran.

Gantz met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Friday.

During the meeting, he indicated he had reached a "strong agreement" with Washington to enhance operational capabilities to confront Iran and coordinate defenses to counter its influence in countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.

Informed sources indicated that the meeting lasted for about an hour. Gantz stressed that Israel will also retain its operational freedom even if an agreement is reached and that the dispute over the proposed deal does not prevent the alliance between the US and Israel against Iranian violations.

Gantz expressed his belief that the nuclear agreement “is not a peace treaty,” stressing the Israeli vision of the necessity of preserving the military option, which helps create a deterrent force even with a deal on the table, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Gantz spoke with Sullivan about the need to continue joint US-Israeli activities against Iran as part of global efforts to undermine Tehran’s nuclear progress.

NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said Sullivan met with the Israeli Minister of Defense to continue consultations on security issues of mutual concern.

Sullivan emphasized President Biden’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, and the two exchanged views on ways to deepen the US-Israel security partnership, including via regional cooperation and coordination.

They discussed the US commitment to ensuring Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon and the need to counter threats from Iran and Iran-based proxies.

Officials said that Gantz and Sullivan had two main concerns about the potential deal: the so-called sunset clause, which will lift limitations on Iran’s nuclear program when the accord expires; and the sanctions relief that would allow Iran to increase funding to its proxies.

Newsweek magazine quoted a National Security Council spokesman said that the aim is to restore Iran's compliance with that deal.

“The focus on sunsets is a red herring. The deal blocks every pathway to a weapon."

Israeli government officials have failed to arrange an “urgent” phone call between Prime Minister Yair Lapid and US President Joe Biden, Channel 13 reported.

When asked by Israeli officials for the phone call, the White House replied that Biden was unavailable as he was on “vacation.” It, however, said that the conversation between the two would eventually occur, and possibly soon.

The channel also indicated that Gantz, who left for Washington on Wednesday evening, will not be able to meet his US counterpart Lloyd Austin since he is also outside Washington.

Gantz arrived in the United States on Thursday and began his meetings by visiting the Central Command Center in Florida and holding a meeting with General Michael Corella, the head of the US Central Command, and Staff Sergeant John Innoha.

Israeli officials have sounded the alarm recently amid reports of an emerging nuclear pact with Iran.

Mossad chief David Barnea has reportedly called the agreement between Iran and the West a "very bad" deal that would only benefit the Islamist republic, while Defense Minister Benny Gantz arrived in the United States to relay Israel's concerns, reported Israel Hayom.

However, US officials said the nuclear deal restoration could not be linked to the safeguards issue.

US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a press briefing on Thursday that the US has been clear that “we do not believe there should be any conditionality between reimplementation of the JCPOA and the investigations related to Iran’s legal obligations,”

He said the only way to address these issues is for Iran to answer International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) questions.

“Once the IAEA director general reports to the board of governors that the outstanding issues have been clarified and resolved, we expect them to come off the board’s agenda, but not before that,” he said.



Spain Searches for Bodies after Flooding Claims at Least 158 Lives

People work on a mud-covered street with damaged cars in the aftermath of torrential rains that caused flooding, in Paiporta, Spain, October 31, 2024. REUTERS/Eva Manez
People work on a mud-covered street with damaged cars in the aftermath of torrential rains that caused flooding, in Paiporta, Spain, October 31, 2024. REUTERS/Eva Manez
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Spain Searches for Bodies after Flooding Claims at Least 158 Lives

People work on a mud-covered street with damaged cars in the aftermath of torrential rains that caused flooding, in Paiporta, Spain, October 31, 2024. REUTERS/Eva Manez
People work on a mud-covered street with damaged cars in the aftermath of torrential rains that caused flooding, in Paiporta, Spain, October 31, 2024. REUTERS/Eva Manez

Crews searched for bodies in stranded cars and sodden buildings Thursday following monstrous flash floods in Spain that claimed at least 158 lives, with 155 deaths confirmed in one region alone.

More horrors emerged from the debris and ubiquitous layers of mud left by the walls of water that produced Spain's deadliest natural disaster in living memory, The Associated Press reported. Officials said Thursday that 155 people were killed by the floods in the hardest-hit region of Valencia.

The widespread damage recalled the aftermath of a hurricane or tsunami.
Cars were piled on one another like fallen dominoes, uprooted trees, downed power lines and household items all mired in mud that covered streets in dozens of communities in Valencia.

An unknown number of people are still missing and more victims could be found.

“Unfortunately, there are dead people inside some vehicles,” said Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente.
Rushing water turned narrow streets into death traps and spawned rivers that tore through homes and businesses, sweeping away cars, people and everything else in its path. The floods demolished bridges and left roads unrecognizable.

Regional authorities said late Wednesday it seemed no one was left stranded on rooftops or in cars in need of rescue after helicopters had saved some 70 people.
“Our priority is to find the victims and the missing so we can help end the suffering of their families,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said after meeting with regional officials and emergency services in Valencia on Thursday, the first of three official days of mourning.

While the most suffering was inflicted on municipalities near the city of Valencia, the storms unleashed their fury over huge swaths of the south and eastern coast of the Iberian peninsula. Two fatalities were reported in the neighboring Castilla La Mancha region and one in southern Andalusia.

The regional president for Castilla La Mancha, Emilion García-Page, said that at least one Guardia Civil police officer was among several missing people in the town of Letur.

Homes were left without water as far southwest as Malaga in Andalusia, where a high-speed train derailed on Tuesday night although none of the nearly 300 passengers were hurt.

Greenhouses and farms across southern Spain, known as Europe’s garden for its exported produce, were also ruined by heavy rains and flooding. The storms spawned a freak tornado in Valencia and a hail storm that punched holes in cars in Andalusia.

Heavy rains continued Thursday farther north as the Spanish weather agency issued a red alert for several counties in Castellón, in the eastern Valencia region, and for Tarragona in Catalonia. An orange alert was issued for southwest Cadiz.
“This storm front is still with us,” the prime minister said. “Stay home and heed the official recommendation and you will help save lives.”