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U.S.-Israel Talks in Washington Highlight Disagreements over Iran's Nuclear Program

(New York Times) Julian E. Barnes, Ronen Bergman and David E. Sanger - Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Mossad head David Barnea were in Washington last week, armed with new intelligence about Iranian uranium enrichment and the work of their weapons group. The Israelis are concerned that the Americans' commitment to restoring the 2015 nuclear deal will lead to a flawed agreement allowing Tehran to speed ahead with its nuclear enrichment program. Israeli officials say in private that the Iranians are advancing their nuclear program while betting that the U.S., eager to diminish American commitments in the Middle East, will not abandon the Vienna talks for more forceful action. Israel and the U.S. also disagree about the wisdom of Israeli sabotage of Iranian facilities, which the Israeli government believes has set back the program. Some in the U.S. argue that it only encourages the Iranians to build back the nuclear enrichment facilities with more efficient, up-to-date equipment. The Israelis consulted with the Americans before launching two covert strikes against Iran, one in September against a missile base and one in June against an Iranian factory building nuclear centrifuges, according to people briefed on the actions. Israeli officials are increasingly concerned that the U.S. will eventually reach a deal with Tehran and then seek to block Israel from carrying out covert sabotage attacks. Israeli leaders want a guarantee from the Biden administration that Washington will not seek to restrain their sabotage campaign, even if a renewed nuclear deal is reached. Disagreements over the meaning of intelligence assessments are wide. American officials believe that so long as Iran has not moved to develop a bomb, it does not have a nuclear military program. Israeli officials believe that Iran has continued a clandestine effort to build a bomb. A senior Israeli intelligence official said the sabotage campaign had created crippling paranoia at the top of the Iranian government and had caused Tehran to rethink whether it should accelerate the nuclear project. But Israeli officials say they fear the U.S. is conducting secret back-channel communication with Iran that will eventually lead to a deal.
2021-12-13 00:00:00
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