Israel Defense Minister Says Iran Dispute With U.S. Is Over
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Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon acknowledged that disputes between Israel and the U.S. over the Iran nuclear deal are over.
“The Iran deal is a given,” Yaalon said at a news conference in Washington on Wednesday with his U.S. counterpart, Ash Carter. “Our disputes are over. And now we have to look to the future.”
Carter said the deal completed in July between Iran and six world powers removes Iran’s nuclear threat, calling it “just one source of uncertainty and risk.” He added that Iran must comply with the deal or face a military threat from the United States, the Defense Department’s Defense News reported.
“I’m under instructions from President Obama to make sure the military option remains intact,” Carter said.
Yaalon said conducted two days of meetings with Carter at the Pentagon this week.
Yaalon said the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, could keep Iran’s nuclear program at bay for as much as 15 years. After that, he said, “we will again be dealing with a potential military nuclear Iran. And we must be ready.”
Carter and Yaalon told reporters that they discussed ways that Washington will support Israel’s enhanced security requirements due to unrest in the region.
Carter reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and Yaalon said Israel has “no greater friend than the United States of America.”
In a joint appearance on Tuesday at Fort McNair, Carter reiterated Washington’s “iron clad” commitment to Israel’s qualitative military edge, and said it would continue to make advance capabilities available to Israel, such as the F-35 stealth fighter.
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