Israel to push Trump on Iran attack plan on high-stakes Washington visit
Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi will lead the multiagency Israeli team to the talks with US national security adviser Michael Waltz and State Department and Pentagon officials in Washington next week.
TEL AVIV — Israeli officials hope to convince the Trump administration to reject Iranian attempts to buy more time for its nuclear program, with the goal of ultimately reaching an understanding on attacking Iran's nuclear facilities.
Top Israeli national security officials will meet with their US counterparts next week in Washington to discuss a blueprint for a potential attack on Iran. The talks will take place within the framework of the first US-Israel Strategic Consultative Group (SCG) meeting since President Donald Trump took office.
“Our goal is to make Trump aware that Iran is on the verge of a bomb, and we are in a period where you can't blink, and you can't take your eyes off the ball,” a senior Israeli military source told Al-Monitor, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We need to increase the pressure, and we can't let Iran drag its feet and procrastinate to buy time, because it could take advantage of this for a quick nuclear breakout, after which everything will be too late.”
Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi will lead the multiagency Israeli team to the talks with US national security adviser Michael Waltz and State Department and Pentagon officials. The talks are expected to focus on the Iranian nuclear issue, including possible negotiations between the United States and Iran, according to US officials.
