US and Israeli security officials discuss Iran

The US-Israeli Consultative Working Group meeting was held. The focus of the meeting was on Middle East issues, with an emphasis on developments in Iran. The US has committed itself to consulting with its allies in the region.

According to news agencies, the first meeting of the US-Israeli consultative working group was held via video on Thursday, March 11. The meeting was attended by senior national security officials from both countries.

The meeting was chaired by White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and his Israeli counterpart, Meir Ben-Shabbat.

Emily Horn, spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House, released a statement regarding the virtual meeting with the strategic teams of the two countries, revealing that “regional security issues, including the issue of Iran, which is of common concern,” were raised and the parties emphasized “the shared determination to confront regional challenges and threats.”

According to the Associated Press, as the Joe Biden administration tries to revive the nuclear deal (JCPOA), the goal of the security meeting with Israel is to reassure the country about future agreements.

Israel has firmly warned the United States about the "danger of returning to the JCPOA" and has considered the previous agreement to be in favor of accelerating Iran's nuclear program and, as a result, to the detriment of Israel.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday (March 10) that the Biden administration was committed to consulting with Israel and other Gulf states “about everything we might do in relation to the Iran deal.”

According to news agencies, Israeli and American politicians had previously agreed to communicate their solution to the nuclear conflict with Iran.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi has said that the agreement between the two countries is based on two pillars: first, informing the other party before taking any action regarding Iran's nuclear program, and second, aligning on preventing Iran from equipping itself with nuclear weapons.

In this regard, the US Secretary of State has stated that any US agreement with Iran will affect Israel and other Persian Gulf countries, so it is necessary for Washington to consult with them.

Source: DW