US prepares for possible failure of nuclear talks with Iran
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed the United States' "possible options" if the current talks to revive the JCPOA fail in Vienna. The Israeli defense minister has also traveled to the United States as the Vienna talks continue.
AFP reported from Washington that the US government is preparing for the possible failure of nuclear negotiations with Iran.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Thursday (December 9) that US President Joe Biden has instructed his team to prepare “other options” if diplomacy fails. Psaki mentioned “additional sanctions” against Iran in this regard.
The White House spokesman made these remarks as the eighth round of Iran's nuclear talks with world powers continued.
The talks resumed on Thursday, December 9, after a six-day break. Representatives from Iran, Germany, Britain, China, France and Russia are participating in the talks. An American delegation will also be involved indirectly.
Military maneuvers between the US, Israel, the UAE and Bahrain
At the same time as these developments, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz traveled to the United States on Thursday, December 9, and met with his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin. The Israeli and American defense ministers discussed “joint military exercises to counter Tehran’s nuclear programs.”
A US official told Reuters that the meeting between the two countries' defense ministers follows a review conducted on October 25 by US Defense Department officials in the presence of White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, which examined a range of military options available to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed during a meeting with Benny Gantz that he was deeply concerned about Iran's nuclear activities in recent months. He also spoke of Iran's "continued provocations and lack of diplomatic engagement."
Austin noted that Biden has explicitly stated that the United States is prepared to turn to other options if the JCPOA negotiations fail.
The US defense secretary did not elaborate on these options, but he did point to a joint military exercise in the Red Sea involving the US, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and said that the “regional security architecture” would be further expanded.
Source: DW
