Bennett urges Blinken to end Iran talks over 'nuclear blackmail'

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett urged the United States on Thursday to immediately call off the seventh round of indirect negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

In a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Bennett said there must be an “immediate cessation of negotiations” in response to Iran’s use of “nuclear blackmail” as a negotiation tactic, the prime minister’s office said in a statement.  

Bennet also referenced the recent International Atomic Energy Agency report that said Iran has streamlined the process of enriching uranium up to 20% purity using advanced machinery at its Fordow underground facility near the city of Qom, in a major violation of the multilateral accord. 

His call with Blinken comes ahead of Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz’ planned visit next week to Washington, where he is scheduled to meet with his US counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. In an interview with Ynet Thursday, Gantz said he believes the Biden administration will prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but that an attack on Iran "is an option.”