Israeli Media: CIA Chief Traveling to Israel for Discussions on Iran
An Israeli media outlet reports that William Burns, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, is traveling to Israel on Tuesday, August 10.
The Israeli news website “Walla” cited “informed sources” saying that one of the main topics of this visit, which marks Burns’ first trip to Israel as CIA director, will be discussions about the Islamic Republic of Iran.
During this trip, William Burns will hold meetings not only with David Barnea, his Israeli counterpart who has been heading Mossad since the beginning of June, but also with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and several senior Israeli military officials.
The trip comes approximately ten days after a deadly drone attack on an Israeli commercial ship near the waters of the Arabian Sea and recent rocket attacks from southern Lebanon against Israel. The United States, Britain, and Israel all hold Iran responsible for the attack. Iran has denied the accusation.
According to the Walla website, the continuation of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States following the beginning of Ibrahim Raisi’s government in Iran will be among the issues discussed by Burns and Israeli officials.
In another development, and as verbal tensions between Iranian and Israeli officials have escalated in recent days and weeks, Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, claimed on Monday, August 9, that the Islamic Republic is “waiting for a wrong move” from Israel so that it can “destroy them.” However, he also stated that “in today’s world, words have become very powerful” and “today words are being launched like missiles and bullets.”
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned Iran on Sunday during a cabinet session, along with its proxy groups, namely Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, about their actions against Israel.
Source: Voice of America
