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.
