U.S. and Israel to reconvene Iran meeting cancelled after Netanyahu accusations
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Israel and the U.S. agreed to reconvene a joint meeting on Iran in July that was cancelled by the White House last week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Biden administration of withholding weapons from Israel, five Israeli and U.S. officials said.
Why it matters: There's growing concern in Israel about developments in the Iranian nuclear program that Israeli leaders believe could be related to possible weaponization efforts, Israeli officials said.
- Iran has repeatedly denied wanting to develop nuclear weapons.
Driving the news: The U.S.-Israel strategic consultative group (SCG), which was formed in 2009 during the Obama administration, is a key forum for U.S.-Israeli discussions about Iran's nuclear program.
- The working group is headed by the national security advisers from Israel and the U.S., and includes representatives from national security, foreign policy and intelligence agencies in both countries.
- The forum hasn't convened since March 2023. Since then, the Iranian nuclear program has significantly escalated, U.S. and Israeli officials say.
Flashback: The gathering of the forum was supposed to take place last Thursday, but was canceled shortly before by the White House after Netanyahu released a video accusing the Biden administration of stopping the U.S. supply of weapons to Israel.
- White House spokesperson John Kirby in a briefing on Thursday said "Netanyahu's video was very disappointing, perplexing and vexing. We expressed our concern to the Israeli government at different levels."
What to watch: Senior Israeli and U.S. officials said the date for the meeting hasn't been set, but added it is expected to take place in mid-July, before Netanyahu's planned speech to Congress on July 24.
- A senior Israeli delegation headed by national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and minister Ron Dermer will travel to Washington for the talks.
- The White House declined to comment.
What they're saying: Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Galant raised Israel's concerns about the developments in the Iranian nuclear program during his meetings with senior Biden administration officials in Washington this week.
- U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told Gallant at the top of their meeting at the Pentagon on Tuesday that the U.S. is aligned with Israel in ensuring Iran can't develop a nuclear weapon.
- "The greatest threat to the future of the world and the future of our region is Iran, and time is running out. Now is the time to realize the commitment of American administrations over the years to promise to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon," Gallant told Austin.
