US and Israel officials held secret talks last week on a “plan B” for Iran if negotiations to revive the nuclear deal do not resume, Axios reported on Wednesday.
The talks were led by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and his Israeli counterpart, Eyal Hulata. Earlier this year, the US and Israel revived a strategic dialogue on Iran between the two nations’ security councils. Last week’s talks were the first time the group was convened since Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet replaced Benjamin Netanyahu.
An Israeli official told Axios that Israel wants the US to move forward with a “plan B” since nuclear deal talks have been stalled since June 20th. The alternative plan the Israelis would like to see would involve more sanctions on Iran, although the Biden administration has implemented a few rounds of Iran-related sanctions in recent months.
An Israeli official told Walla News that during the meeting, the US conveyed to Israel if talks don’t resume soon, the US will impose even more sanctions on Iran. US sanctions have decimated Iran’s economy, and Washington is now eyeing measures that would disrupt Tehran’s oil trade to East Asia, which has been a vital lifeline for the country.
Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz hinted that Israel is working on a “plan C” that involves military action against Iran, and the Israeli Defense Forces have said they are “accelerating” plans to attack Iran. The Israelis frequently take covert action against Iran, which Bennett has vowed his government will continue.
While the Israelis are eager for the US to explore other options, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday that nuclear talks will resume in “a few weeks.” Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has signaled he’s ready to return to the table if the negotiations bring Iran sanctions relief. The question is if President Biden is willing to lift enough sanctions that would give the Islamic Republic enough economic relief.
Iran better hurry up and get its deterrent. It is going to need it.
Iran already has deterrents. When Muhandis and Suleimani were assassinated Iran attacked 2 US bases. Over 100 US Soldiers seriously wounded. The US stood down.
Now we hear that 2 generals involved in the killing US and Israeli generals Willis and Asman have recently been killed.
In 2006 Israel attacked Lebanon with the intention of claiming more land up to the Litani River (a natural boundary). They got their butt kicked and no longer attack Hezbollah.
When Syria stabilises expect Syria to create a deterrent.
Next they attacked tiny and weak Gaza. Now they are begging the US for $1 Billion to replenish the iron dome. But the Palestinians are slowly adapting more sophisticated missile technology. Soon the iron dome will be even less effective. Then Israel will be in real trouble.
Finally, Iran just joined the SCO. Give it a year and Iran will start thriving.
So lets see how long Israeli belligerence continues.
If history is any guide, Israeli belligerence will last thousands of years.
Long after Israel ceases to exist.
clarify please.
Israel will always be belligerent becsuse their Zionist government thinks G-d gave them all the real estate they lust to own. There can be no peace for us or any expansionist state we support. Little guys who try to control & beat the big guys always end up in the morgue. Same 4 states!!! Especially midget ones like Irael. A nuclear bomb state with absolutely ZERO strategic depth. A formula for anhillation. But Hubris is blind to karma and numbers. Just ego driven supremisism…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“The Israelis frequently take covert action against Iran, which Bennett has vowed his government will continue.”
Doesn’t that make those actions overt? And if Iran did anything similar, covert or overt, wouldn’t we be calling those acts “state sponsored terrorism”?
Yes, the Ministry of Truth is so far invincible. And, I think the Zionazis would like to do a demo on Iran for practice and a caution to Russia/China, and put final period to Islam, all North Africa and Mid-East. But they need to provoke a really dramatic casus belli (another Reichstag Fire) to jingo the “street” again.
There is also Plan D, Destruction of Israel…!
Iran’s plan from the start
Oh sure, Iran has proven that by assassinating Israeli scientists, raiding the homes of Israeli citizens, entering temples, firing tear gas, shooting worshipers. bombing Israeli housing, destroying Israeli crops, controlling water and electricity to Israel.
Oh wait, it’s Israel that is the culprit. My mistake…….
Never mind the Jake From State Farm…!
If Iran had not opposed Oslo. then perhaps things would be more peaceful.
If Yigal Amir hadn’t pumped two bullets into Rabin’s back, then perhaps things would be more peaceful!!!
Israel can sign the NPT and allow inspectors into Dimona and elsewhere. Then they may complain about Iran’s nuclear program. The complaints will still be baseless, but no longer hypocritical.
The NPT basically allows for certain states to have nukes, and others not.The whole treaty is hypocritical
Nice 2C Jake recognize hypocrisy when he sees it.. Maybe he is growing more evenhanded.0
The NPT calls for two things:
1) For signatory states that don’t have nukes to not get them; and
2) For signatory states that have nukes to get rid of them.
So far as I know, provision (1) has held, while provision (2) has been pretty much ignored.
Non-signatory states, like Israel aren’t bound by NPT because they’re non-signatory. On the other hand, not being signatory means they’re not a party to the treaty and therefore really don’t have any standing to bellyache about the NPT-related behavior of signatory states like Iran, which has, so far as anyone can tell, met its obligations under NPT and shows no signs of intending to stop meeting those obligations.
Legalistics are irrelevant when it comes to survival.
Sure, but my point remains.
when it comes to survival, you do what you must.
I don’t know what that means in the context of this discussion. The fact remains that Israel is the only nuclear armed rogue state in the Middle East and their complaints about Iran and its compliance with the NPT are laughably hypocritical, especially when the only hard evidence ever offered of a military dimension to the Iranian nuclear program turned out to be a laptop traced back to Mossad.
Who in the FUCK do these two terrorist countries, Amerikkka and Isra-hell, think they are that they can manipulate the fates of sovereign nations?
Starving children to death via sanctions?
Ordinary citizens who happened to be born in the “wrong” country struggling to survive?
This shit makes me physically ill. If I could leave this godforsaken place I would.