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The Biden administration and Tel Aviv have clashed in recent weeks over the White House’s effort to resume nuclear talks with Tehran in hopes of reviving the 2015 nuclear deal that was destroyed by President Donald Trump in 2018.
President Biden’s team has publicly expressed frustration with Israel, ranging from new settlements to Israel’s decision to sabotage an Iranian facility in Karaj last June. The Associated Press pointed out that the strike occurred days after Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner, won the election.
The U.S. and Iran have been carrying out talks in Vienna through diplomats from other countries. Reuters, citing a European source, reported that the Iranians agreed on Friday to resume talks that were suspended in June. Iran denied the claim.
The Trends Journal has reported extensively on the shadow war being played out between Israel and Iran. Israel sees the possibility of Iran returning to the agreement an existential threat. (See “IRAN BLAMES ISRAEL FOR NUCLEAR FACILITY EXPLOSION,” “ISRAEL BLAMES ROCKET ATTACK ON HEZBOLLAH, RESPONDS” and “ISRAEL TO ATTACK IRAN? WASHINGTON GIVES THE GREEN LIGHT TO THE MILITARY OPTION.”)
Iran has bristled at the sanctions that have been imposed by European countries and said there have been no breakthroughs.
“European parties fail to come up with any initiatives to resolve differences over the removal of sanctions (on Iran),” Ali Baheri, Tehran’s top nuclear negotiator told Press TV on Sunday, according to Reuters.
Tehran has been accused by the U.S. of not taking the nuclear discussions seriously.
The New York Times reported that officials close to Biden let it be known that the president tasked Jake Sullivan, his national security adviser, with looking over military action plans in the event the U.S. was forced to act on Iran.
The paper said the move apparently hoped to serve two purposes: It showed Iran that Washington’s patience is not perpetual, and signaled to Israel that although the White House wants Tehran to sign back up for the deal, the U.S. is not naive.
The report said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett held a tense call with Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week as it appeared more certain that the U.S.’s diplomatic effort with Tehran will continue.
Bombs Away!
About 58 percent of Jewish Israelis say that they would be in favor of a military strike on one of Iran’s nuclear facilities without the approval of the White House, The Jerusalem Post reported, citing the Israel Democracy Institute.
Tehran currently has the ability to enrich small amounts of uranium up to 60 percent purity, the AP report said. The report pointed out that 90 percent is considered a weapons-grade level.
TREND FORECAST: We have reported Prime Minister Nafatli Bennett is simply a new face on Netanyahu’s foreign policies. (See “ISRAEL’S NEW GOVERNMENT: BOMBS VS. BALLOONS.”)
He said in an alleged interview back in 2018 that if he were the county’s defense minister, he would enact a “shoot-to-kill” policy with Gaza for those who breach the barrier wall. He was asked what he would do if those breaching the wall were children and he responded that he would kill them, too.
“They are not children—they are terrorists,” he said.
We wonder the response that France, Germany, and the U.S. would have if an outside country told it to shut down nuclear power plants due to the threat they could be used for sinister purposes.
The U.S. thinks it could spend its way out of poor diplomacy by spending hundreds of billions on its military complex. Russia and China have both accused the U.S. of being unwilling to negotiate on key issues and—because of silly, decades-long policy—needs to talk indirectly with Tehran.
Netanyahu, in his final speech in front of the Knesset that was supposed to last 15 minutes but went on for over a half-hour, said Iran celebrated his loss because they “understand that starting today there will be a weak and unstable government that will align with the dictates of the international community.”
Bennett, who sees weakness as a political vulnerability, will continue the push to take more Palestinian land to build settlements and will need to continue tough rhetoric when it comes to Iran.
TREND FORECAST: Should military tensions between Israel and Iran escalate and war breaks out between the two nations, oil prices will spike to well over $100 a barrel, which will, in turn, spike inflation rates and trigger a global equity market crash. It will also mark the beginning of World War III.