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U.S. Official: U.S., Israel to Discuss Military Drills to Destroy Iran's Nuclear Facilities
(Reuters) Phil Stewart - U.S. and Israeli defense chiefs are expected on Thursday to discuss possible military exercises to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities should diplomacy fail, a senior U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday. The official said Pentagon leaders briefed White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Oct. 25 on the full set of military options available to ensure that Iran would not be able to produce a nuclear weapon. The U.S.-Israeli preparations underscore Western concern about the nuclear talks with Iran. "Iran's nuclear program is advancing to a point beyond which it has any conventional rationale," the official said. Such drills could address calls to openly signal to Iran that the U.S. and Israel are serious about preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Dennis Ross, a former senior U.S. official and Middle East expert, said last month that "Biden needs to disabuse Iran of the notion that Washington will not act militarily and will stop Israel from doing so."