Mossad Chief Kicks Off Meetings in Washington to Discuss Nuclear Deal

Israeli Mossad chief David Barnea (Reuters)
Israeli Mossad chief David Barnea (Reuters)
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Mossad Chief Kicks Off Meetings in Washington to Discuss Nuclear Deal

Israeli Mossad chief David Barnea (Reuters)
Israeli Mossad chief David Barnea (Reuters)

Israeli Mossad chief David Barnea arrived in Washington for a series of meetings with US officials.

Upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington on Tuesday evening, Barnea met with senior officials of the White House, the US State Department, and the Pentagon.

He also met with the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, and some members of the congressional intelligence committee.

Barnea aims to convince the US of the dangers of reaching a "bad" nuclear deal, and wants to boost security and intelligence coordination with the United States.

Israel's warnings of a bad nuclear deal resonate with US lawmakers, but its ability to bring about a fundamental change to the Biden administration's position on reviving the deal finds a lot of controversy and doubts.

The US administration seeks to achieve a diplomatic victory before the midterm elections. Washington hopes the conclusion of the deal to pump oil from Iranian energy sources into global markets would lower prices and provide European countries with alternative sources.

However, Israel's warnings do not seem to fundamentally change the US position, based on recent statements of officials in the State Department and the White House.

During the press conference on Tuesday, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre stressed that President Biden would make a deal with Iran only if it achieved US national security interests.

"We have taken a deliberate and principled approach to these negotiations from the start. If Iran is prepared to comply with comments — with its commitments under the 2015 deal, then we are prepared to do the same," she said.

The spokeswoman hinted at preparations for multiple scenarios in the ongoing negotiations with Iran.

"The administration, along with our allies, is preparing equally for scenarios with or — and without a mutual return to the — to the full implementation of the JCPOA."

She asserted that Biden would only conclude a deal that he determines in the national security interest of the United States.

"Again, not going to negotiate, not going to have conversations or hypotheticals of what may or may not happen. We have been very clear about what we intend here, and it's to make sure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon. And that is our ultimate goal here," said Jean-Pierre.

For his part, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told reporters that there are "still gaps" between the negotiating parties.

Kirby asserted that efforts are still underway toward restoring the nuclear agreement, noting that the negotiations are swinging back and forth, and refused to give a specific date for ending these negotiations.

He indicated that the US gave its response to the European Union, and the Iranians have given their response, and there are still gaps.

"Suffice to say there are still gaps, and we're just not there yet," Kirby explained in a briefing.

"That doesn't mean that we're less committed to a deal. It doesn't mean that we don't still want to see if we can get there; we do. But there's still quite a bit of work for our diplomats to do."

Kirby indicated that the United States and President Biden are the strongest supporters of Israel's right to self-defense.

Kirby added: "We're not going to talk about hypotheticals here with respect to Iran. The president has been clear: You will not allow Iran to achieve a nuclear weapons capability," he continued. "[Biden] believes strongly that the best way to do that is through diplomacy."

Meanwhile, the State Department's Deputy Spokesperson, Vedant Patel, said that the Iranian response to the European Union shows that the gaps still exist.

"We've consistently said that gaps remain," Patel continued, "and it's clear from Iran's response that these gaps remain."



Putin Thanks Saudi Leadership for Sponsoring ‘Positive’ Riyadh Talks

 A handout photo made available by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service shows Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov (2-R) attending a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2-L), US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (3-L) and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L), Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Saudi National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 18 February 2025. (EPA / Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service)
A handout photo made available by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service shows Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov (2-R) attending a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2-L), US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (3-L) and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L), Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Saudi National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 18 February 2025. (EPA / Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service)
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Putin Thanks Saudi Leadership for Sponsoring ‘Positive’ Riyadh Talks

 A handout photo made available by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service shows Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov (2-R) attending a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2-L), US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (3-L) and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L), Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Saudi National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 18 February 2025. (EPA / Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service)
A handout photo made available by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service shows Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov (2-R) attending a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2-L), US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (3-L) and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L), Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Saudi National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 18 February 2025. (EPA / Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would like to meet with President Donald Trump but the meeting needs to be prepared to make it productive.

"I would like to have a meeting, but it needs to be prepared so that it brings results," Putin said in televised remarks. He added that he would be "pleased" to meet Trump.

Putin hailed the "positive" talks between senior Russian and US officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, noting that the parties agreed to restore the tattered diplomatic relations.

He expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for holding the talks in Riyadh.

"In my opinion, we have taken a first step to resume work in a variety of areas that are of mutual interest," Putin said. These included issues relating to the Middle East, global energy markets and cooperation in space, he said.

"Without increasing the level of trust between Russia and the United States, it is impossible to resolve many issues, including the Ukrainian crisis."

Ukraine and European governments were not invited to the talks in the Saudi capital, which heightened their concern that Russia and the United States might cut a deal that ignores their vital security interests.

But Putin said Russia had never rejected talks with the Europeans or with Kyiv, and it was they who had refused to talk to Moscow.

'NO ONE IS EXCLUDING UKRAINE,' PUTIN SAYS

"If they want, please, let these negotiations take place. And we will be ready to return to the table for negotiations," he said.

"No one is excluding Ukraine," he added, saying that there was therefore no need for a "hysterical" reaction to the US-Russia talks.

Putin praised the American's "restraint" in the face of what he called "boorish" behavior by US allies.

He said he would be "happy to meet with Donald".

"But we are in such a situation that it is not enough to meet to have tea, coffee, sit and talk about the future. We need to ensure that our teams prepare issues that are extremely important for both the United States and Russia, including - but not only - on the Ukrainian track, in order to reach solutions acceptable to both sides."

Putin said this would be no easy task. He said that Trump himself, who during the US election campaign repeatedly promised to end the Ukraine war in 24 hours, was now talking about a period of six months.

He said this was "natural" because Trump had simply begun to receive fresh information that changed his approach.