Skip to main content

Mossad chief conveys Israeli concerns about Iran to Biden

Reports say that President Joe Biden joined unexpectedly on Friday a meeting at the White House between Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on June 7, 2020. Netanyahu urged world powers to reimpose tough sanctions against Iran, vowing to curb Tehran's regional "aggression" hours after another deadly strike on pro-Iranian fighters in Syria.

President Joe Biden met with Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen on April 30 at the White House. An unnamed spokesperson for the US National Security Council said Cohen’s meeting at the White House was with national security adviser Jake Sullivan and CIA director Bill Burns. Reportedly, Biden “dropped by to express condolences for the tragedy at Mount Meron." Thus, Cohen is now the first top Israeli official to have met with Biden since the US president took office. The meeting lasted for an hour, with Cohen the only person to attend from the Israeli side.

US sources downplayed the significance of the meeting, which they said was not planned ahead, while Israeli sources stressed that the sit-down meeting lasted for a full hour.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.