Britain, Israel Agree to Stop Iran From Getting Nuclear Weapons

FMs agree to an 'even closer partnership'

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Israeli FM Yair Lapid have issued a joint statement surrounding their memorandum of understanding. The overarching subject is a 10-year plan to deepen ties between the two nations.

Because this is Israel, though, one cannot get through a whole diplomatic session without making things about Iran, and the nations agreed to join forces to stop Iran from getting nuclear arms.

The fact of the matter is Iran is not attempting to get nuclear arms, and Israel’s objections center on Iran’s civilian nuclear program. Israel prefers to ignore that reality, as it would get in the way of drumming up anti-Iran sentiment.

It’s not clear what, if anything, this means for UK policy toward Iran, and it may to them just be for politeness’ sake toward Israel. Israel may be keen for visible expressions of support, however, as the US is moving toward engaging diplomatically with Iran, something Israel at times opposes.

Iran talks are expected to resume in Vienna soon, and Britain will be involved. There is no indication that Britain will be averse to a resumption of the nuclear deal.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.