Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat told US counterpart Jake Sullivan in a secure video call two weeks ago that Israel believes Iran’s nuclear program should be treated separately from its regional activity in future negotiations. , two informed sources told me about the call.
Why does it matter: While many critics of the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal note that it has done nothing to reduce Iran’s aggression in the region, Israel is concerned that the link between the two issues will provide incentives for US and European negotiators to compromise the limitations of Iran’s nuclear program. .
Game status: The Biden administration says it will return the United States to the 2015 nuclear deal by lifting sanctions if Iran returns to compliance by reversing its recent nuclear steps.
- The main sticking point is sequencing those movements. The United States offered last week to open direct talks to resolve the issues, but Iran has not formally responded.
- Between the lines: Some in the Biden administration want to promote a broader and more lasting agreement now – with Iran’s regional behavior and its mass missile program – but Biden’s stated goal is to restore the 2015 agreement and use it as a platform for further negotiations.
News management: Ben-Shabbat told Sullivan in their Feb. 11 call that there should be no attempt to balance Iran’s non-nuclear steps – for example, by limiting its presence in Syria – with nuclear restrictions such as those on research and development. advanced centrifuges.
- Ben-Shabbat said Israel’s position is that Iran’s nuclear program is an existential threat and must be addressed first, and the lesser threat to Iran’s regional behavior should be dealt with separately, sources said.
- The Israeli national security adviser added that an Iran with a nuclear weapon would not live up to any regional commitments anyway.
Not worth anything: There have been numerous contacts over Iran over the past month between the Biden administration and the Israeli government.
- Israeli officials tell me that they are generally satisfied with what they describe as the Biden administration’s constructive approach and willingness to listen to Israel’s concerns.
- Secretary of State Tony Blinken has spoken three times with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi – more than with any other foreign counterpart. Blinken also discussed Iran with Yossi Cohen, director of the Mossad news agency.
The most recent: On Wednesday, we reported that Israel and the United States had agreed to convene a strategic working group on Iran, with the first round of talks on intelligence services surrounding Iran’s nuclear program expected in the coming days.