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US, Israel to Discuss Drill as Iran Nuclear Talks Falter

Defence chiefs of the US and Israel are expected to meet on 9 December to discuss a probable military drill. The possible talks on military exercise emerges in the event of a possible worst-case scenario, where the ongoing Iran nuclear talks fail and both sides prepare to dismantle Iran’s nuclear facilities.

A Reuters report suggest that such a scenario can also be discussed if the two nation’s leaders request such an action. 

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz is travelling to Washington DC for talks with American military officials. 

The ongoing Iran’s nuclear talks in Vienna has been faltering. The talks between Iran, European representatives and Russia and China are going to resume today. 

European representatives and US officials have expressed concern over the outcome of these talks. 

Reuters report quotes an American official, who said that the drill will prepare for a worst-case scenario with Iran, in the event of breakdown of talks and the US and Israeli leaders request a military strike.

Before the Israeli minister left for the US, Gantz said, “Iran is a threat to world peace and seeks to become an existential threat to Israel.”

“At the meetings, we will discuss possible courses of action to ensure that it stops its attempt to reach the nuclear arena and expand its activities in the region,” the minister said.

The Israeli Defence Minister is likely to meet US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Without sharing any further details, the US official expressed concern over the way Iran’s nuclear program has advanced.

Earlier in October this year, the US military top brass had briefed National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan over military options against Iran proliferating program.

Talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal resumed on 29 November in Vienna. The dialogue process was stalled following the election Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in June this year.

In 2018, the then US president Donald Trump had pulled out of these talks and reimposed sanctions against Tehran.

The US President Joe Biden had sought to revive these talks. 

Apart from lifting of sanctions, Iran is also demanding a guarantee from the US that it will not quit the agreement. The US is not directly participating in the Vienna talks.

The sweeping demands made by Iran is not acceptable to other parties attending the talks. According to Israeli media, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) is planning to host a large-scale drill in the Mediterranean in Spring next year.