Defense Minister Bnei Gantz met tonight (Saturday) in Munich with US Vice President Kamla Harris. The two discussed the Iranian issue and the apparent progress in the nuclear talks in Vienna, and Gantz told Harris: “It is important that in any agreement with Iran there will be strict oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency including further investigation and no closure of open cases.”
At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Defense wrote on his Twitter account: “Tonight I had an important and good meeting with US Vice President Kamla Harris, who focused on the strategic ties and cooperation between the countries that contribute to the region’s security and Israel’s security.”
“I told the Vice President that I thank the United States and President Biden for their commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and that it is important that any agreement with Iran be strictly monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency, including further investigation and lack of open cases. In addition, I thanked her for her assistance to “maintain stability in the region in the face of the aggression that Iran is displaying in itself and through its envoys.”
“We also discussed the need to develop the Abrahamic Agreements, in the situation in Ukraine, and necessarily to continue to strengthen the confidence-building measures with the Palestinians. In this context, I updated it on a series of steps I intend to take in the near future to strengthen cooperation with our neighbors in economic and civil matters.”
- Bardugo dismissal storm: MK from the right who broke the boycott on IDF waves
Ganz arrived in Munich yesterday to attend a security conference in the shadow of the crisis in Ukraine, where he met with defense ministers from around the world. Tomorrow, the Defense Minister is expected to take part in a panel on the Abrahamic Agreements with the participation of Bahrain’s Deputy Foreign Minister.
Gantz will also meet tonight with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsutakis, and with Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiatopoulos. The meeting takes place against the background of President Herzog’s expected visit to Turkey in about three weeks. Greek officials have said Prime Minister Mitsutakis is expected to speak with Gantz about Turkey’s “aggressive policy” in the region.
Israel estimates that the United States and Iran are very close to an agreement and that it will most likely be signed in the next two weeks. The Office of the Vice President of the United States and the Office of the Secretary of Defense declined to comment.
Within Israel’s political leadership, Gantz holds the most positive line regarding a US return to the nuclear deal. Like the head of the Armed Forces, Aharon Haliva, and other senior members of the defense establishment, Ganz also believes that a US return to the nuclear agreement is the least bad option for Israel, and much better than continuing the current situation where the Iranian nuclear program has no restrictions.