Bennett Says Biden Supports Israel’s ‘Freedom of Action’ Against Iran

Biden and Bennet spoke by phone Sunday

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Monday that President Biden explicitly supports Israel’s “freedom of action” against Iran whether the nuclear deal is revived or not.

The two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday. According to a White House readout of the call, Biden “conveyed his unwavering support for Israel’s security and freedom of action,” without tying it directly to Iran.

“I  made clear, and I was happy that he made it explicitly clear, that Israel will maintain its freedom of action in every situation,” Bennett told reporters, as quoted by The Times of Israel.

“It is extremely important. We will maintain our freedom of action without any connection to what will be, with or without an agreement,” Bennett added, referring to the Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA.

Bennett and other Israeli officials have threatened to attack Iran if the JCPOA is restored, and the Israeli military has been making new plans for operations against the Islamic Republic. But due to Israel’s aging tanker planes and its lack of bunker-busting bombs, it’s not believed Israel can really pull off an attack against Iran’s civilian nuclear program without US support.

Israel has been successful in its covert assassinations and sabotage attacks inside Iran. In November, The New York Times reported that the US warned Israel against such operations, but Israeli officials said they have no intention of “letting up.”

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.