Nuclear Iran: Diplomatic path remains best option, but we have other avenues - US official

• Author: OMRI NAHMIAS
• Published date: 06 October 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

As Israeli National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata headed to Washington to meet with his US counterpart, Jake Sullivan, the official said that the two sides are expected to discuss several regional issues, including Iran, the Abraham Accords and the Palestinians.

"Based on our many engagements with Israeli officials, it is clear that we have a common [understanding in our] assessment of the extent to which Iran's nuclear program has dramatically broken out of the box since the previous [Trump] administration left the Iran nuclear deal," the official said. "This is reflected in the recent IAEA report."

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The administration remains committed to a diplomatic path, the official clarified. "We think that is the best way to put a ceiling on a program and roll back the gains that Iran has made in recent years on the nuclear side. But, obviously, if that doesn't work, there are other avenues to pursue.

"We are very closely aligned on how we see the bigger picture," he said. "We don't see eye to eye on every single issue, but there's a great deal of alignment – both in how we see the challenges presented, particularly by Iran, and how to ensure that we are effectively utilizing the full range of tools at our disposal."

Speaking about the prospects of returning to the indirect negotiations in Vienna, the official said that the Iranians "are sending indications to a number of parties that they are preparing to come back to Vienna – and, of course, we'll have to see whether they reengage in that process constructively or not.

"We're very much looking forward to this visit," the official told reporters on Monday. "[We had] a fairly intensive period as usual in Middle East diplomacy – most of it, of course, behind the scenes."

The official noted that this is the third time that Sullivan has hosted Hulata since August.

"We feel that we've established a very good rhythm of engagement and consultation with the new Israeli national security team," he said.

THE CLIMAX of Hulata's visit will be an in-person meeting of the US-Israel Strategic Consultative Group on Tuesday morning, the official said.

The SCG is a bilateral interagency dialogue shared by the two national security advisers. This would be the first in-person meeting of the group, which was established in March.

"It's an opportunity for the national security advisers to lead a...