On Feb. 13, Israel's national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat held a video phone call with his American counterpart, Jake Sullivan. The conversation reportedly dealt with regional security issues. It was the second time Ben-Shabbat and Sullivan spoke on the phone since Sullivan was appointed to his position. The first one took place on Jan. 23. In that first conversation, the two men agreed to discuss soon the many topics on the agenda, including Iran, regional issues and advancing the Abraham Accords.
The Feb. 13 conversation was significant because of publications made the day before. Reportedly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had appointed Ben-Shabbat as his main interlocutor for the upcoming negotiations between the United States and other major powers with Iran. Ben-Shabbat is now tasked with conveying Netanyahu’s positions on Iran to the new Joe Biden administration, with the hope of establishing a productive dialogue channel on Tehran between Jerusalem and Washington.
