Scoop: Mossad director visits U.S. for Iran consultations
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David Barnea (L) in 2024. Photo: Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty
The director of Israel's Mossad spy agency, David Barnea, arrived in the U.S. on Friday morning for talks on the situation in Iran, according to an Israeli source and another source with knowledge of the meeting.
Why it matters: Barnea's visit is part of the consultations between the U.S. and Israel over the protests in Iran and possible U.S. military action in response to the regime's crackdown.
- Barnea is expected to meet in Miami with White House envoy Steve Witkoff, who is managing the direct channel of communication between the U.S. and Iran.
- Witkoff has been in touch with Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, during the protests.
- It's not yet clear whether Barnea will meet President Trump in Mar-a-Lago over the weekend.
Driving the news: Barnea's trip follows a phone call on Wednesday between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the Iran crisis.
- During the call, Netanyahu asked Trump to hold off on military action against Iran to give Israel more time to prepare for potential Iranian retaliation.
- An Israeli source said that in addition to concerns about retaliation, the current U.S. plan includes strikes on security force targets in Iran, but is not seen by Israel as strong enough to meaningfully destabilize the regime.
- U.S. officials say military action is still on the table if Iran resumes the killing of protesters. Israeli officials think that despite the delay, a U.S. military strike could take place in the coming days.
What to watch: The U.S. military is sending additional defensive and offensive capabilities to the region to be ready in case Trump orders a strike, U.S. sources say.
- The Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its strike group are making their way to the Middle East from the South China Sea.
- More air defense systems, fighter jets and possibly submarines are also expected to arrive in the region.
The intrigue: When he reached out to Witkoff, Araghchi proposed a meeting and the resumption of nuclear negotiations.
- The Israeli government is concerned the Iranians will use such negotiations to buy time and relief from the U.S. pressure.
- On the other hand, some officials think the current crisis could convince the Iranian regime to make concessions it refused to consider in the past, on the nuclear program, missile program, and proxy groups.
At a conference of the Israeli-American Council in Miami on Thursday night, Witkoff said he communicated with the Iranians the day before about the potential mass hangings.
- "That has been shut down," Witkoff said.
- Witkoff said he hopes it will be possible to get a diplomatic solution with Iran and noted that any deal will have to address uranium enrichment and Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, Iran's inventory of ballistic missiles, and its network of proxies in the region.
- Witkoff said Iran's economy was badly "stumbling" and if Tehran wants to change that and return to the community of nations, it can be accomplished through diplomacy. "The alternative will be a bad one."
