Sullivan: US prepares for options other than diplomacy if JCPOA talks fail

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on the sidelines of a meeting with his Israeli counterpart that the United States is committed to diplomacy as “the best means to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.” At the same time, Mr. Sullivan said, the United States is “preparing alternative options, in coordination with our partners, in the event that diplomacy fails.”

The White House announced in a statement on Wednesday night, February 26, the holding of a virtual meeting of the US-Israel Strategic Consultative Group (SCG) with the participation of White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Israeli National Security Advisor Dr. Eyal Holata.

The statement said that "major regional developments since the previous meeting of the Strategic Consultative Group in December last year, including developments in Iran's nuclear program," were among other topics discussed by officials from the two countries.

Iran and the United States are pursuing indirect talks in Vienna, Austria. The Biden administration says the United States will return to the nuclear deal if Iran returns to its commitments under the JCPOA. In contrast, the Islamic Republic says it will return to these commitments if the Biden administration lifts all sanctions against Iran.

On the other hand, Israel is a critic of the nuclear deal with Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had previously said that a nuclear deal acceptable to Israel would be one that does not allow the Islamic Republic to enrich highly enriched uranium and that Iran must abandon its nuclear weapons program.

US and British officials have warned in recent weeks that the Vienna nuclear talks are progressing slowly and, according to the British Foreign Secretary, are "dangerously approaching a deadlock."

Source: Voice of America