Israel asks the US for a “military option” against Iran in the face of an imminent resumption of the nuclear agreement

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz already admits the possibility but insists on a “longer” and restrictive pact against Iran

Aug. 26 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz has asked the United States to consider the possibility of preparing a “military option” against Iran to facilitate negotiations with Tehran in the framework of a possible return of the Islamic republic to the nuclear agreement with the community. international, although it already admits behind closed doors that the reactivation of the pact is a probable scenario.

Gantz, in fact, was annoyed at the time the withdrawal of the United States in 2018 from the nuclear agreement with Iran, understanding that Washington’s exit did not provide any solution to the negotiations to prevent Tehran from ending up developing a nuclear weapon, something that the Iranian authorities have always denied.

Now, after a “frank and positive” conversation in the White House with the US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, Gantz has explained that Israel is not opposed to signing the agreement, but it does demand a version of it much more against the Iranian authorities, a source from the Israeli Ministry of Defense, on condition of anonymity, tells the ‘Times of Israel’.

Gantz, in particular, has stated that Israel has two main concerns regarding the potential deal: the so-called ‘sunset clause’, which will lift limitations on Iran’s nuclear program when the deal expires; and sanctions relief, which would allow Iran to increase funding to armed groups considered by Israel to be terrorist groups.

“At least I think the United States is listening to us, although in the end it does not listen to everything we are asking of it,” explained this Defense source. “We want an agreement, but longer and more forceful,” she added.

The United States, for its part, limited itself to indicating that the adviser “reiterated the unwavering commitment of the President of the United States, Joe Biden, to the security of Israel”, as well as “Washington’s commitment to guarantee that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon”.

The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, assured this Friday that the parties are “closer than ever” to reviving the nuclear agreement with Iran after the United States has responded to the final text proposal of the European Union.

For his part, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Hosein Amirabdolahian, pointed out, during a meeting with the president of Zanzibar, Hosein Moini, that Tehran has made “many efforts” to try to lift the sanctions.

“If the Americans are realistic, I think that (the situation) can be resolved,” explained the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, adding that they are already in “the final stage” of the process, as reported by the agency of Tasnim news.