Israel, US Discuss Defense Cooperation Against Iranian Threat
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to discuss deepening bilateral defense cooperation in face of the Iranian threat.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to discuss deepening bilateral defense cooperation in face of the Iranian threat.
The two held a meeting on the sidelines of the Aspen Security Forum on Friday, where they also discussed President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel and Saudi Arabia and its effects on ways to strengthen regional cooperation.
“We discussed the growing threat posed by Iran to the world, the region and to the State of Israel via its nuclear program and growing aggression via proxies, maritime activities, cyberattacks and more, and ways to create a united front against the region’s biggest destabilizer,” Gantz tweeted.
Gantz also held separate meetings with former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of defense Mark Esper, and Iowa’s Republican Senator Joni Ernst.
In an interview during the Aspen forum, Gantz noted that war with Iran was the least desired option, saying, “Should we jump to a war at the first opportunity we have? No. Should we be able to conduct military operations to prevent it [a nuclear Iran] if needed, the answer is ‘yes.’ Are we building the ability [for war]? Yes. Should we use it as a last case? Yes – and I hope that we will get US support.”
During Biden’s trip, the Jerusalem US-Israel Strategic Partnership Joint Declaration was issued in which Washington reaffirmed its commitment “never to allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon” and promised that “Israel had a right to defend itself by itself.”
A video from a CCTV camera was released on media showing a car, which apparently was following Majid Abdolbaghi’s vehicle as it went into the parking lot, stopped in front of a building, as one man started shooting with a handgun from the front seat and another one got out of the car and started shooting from behind the car. According to reports Abdolbaghi succumbed to injuries after he was taken to hospital.
The Metropol twin towers collapsed on May 23 burying more than 80 people under the rubble, with about 42 bodies recovered. Soon after the collapse it became apparent that the owner and builder, Hossein Abdolbaghi, was a powerful and politically well-connected businessman who had disregarded regulations and building codes, backed by officials, who might have had their own financial interests.
Following the incident, Iranian media initially reported that Abdolbaghi, who was reportedly connected to Iran’s top security official Ali Shamkhani, had been arrested, but the government later announced that he had died in the collapse. The public did not believe the claim and many said that he escaped and corrupt officials, who had allowed him to violate building regulations, wanted him to disappear.
In June, reports came out that a physician who refused to cooperate in the alleged coverup had died mysteriously.
Earlier in the week, Iran’s prosecutor general issued an indictment against 20 people accused in the case of the Metropol incident.