Eurasia presents news published in Al-Jazeera about Israel's attitude to the future policy of Biden administration on Iran.
Israel’s military is refreshing its operational plans against Iran and any US return to the 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran would be “wrong”, a top general warned.
Israeli Lieutenant-General Amir Kohavi made the remarks on Tuesday in an address to Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies.
Israel’s military is refreshing its operational plans against Iran and any US return to the 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran would be “wrong”, a top general warned.
Israeli Lieutenant-General Amir Kohavi made the remarks on Tuesday in an address to Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies.
‘On the table’
Since Washington pulled out of the deal, Iran has gradually breached its key limits, building up its stockpile of low enriched uranium, enriching uranium to higher levels of purity, and installing centrifuges in ways barred by the accord.
Kohavi said those actions by Iran, which denies it is seeking atomic arms, showed it could ultimately decide to push forward rapidly towards building a nuclear weapon.
“In light of this fundamental analysis, I have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare a number of operational plans, in addition to those already in place,” Kohavi said.
“It will be up to the political leadership, of course, to decide on implementation, but these plans need to be on the table.”
Trita Parsi, an analyst from the Quincy Institute, said Kohavi’s remarks were a clear message to Biden after Trump – a staunch ally of Netanyahu – left office last week.
“Even before Biden took the oath of office, the Netanyahu government went after him extremely aggressively – took off the gloves right away – to try to pressure Biden not to go back to the nuclear deal,” Parsi told Al Jazeera.
“One of Netanyahu’s ministers said publicly that if the United States rejoins the nuclear deal – which is something Biden believes lies in the US’ national interest – Israel would go to war. This is very serious at a very early stage.”
He noted in the past there had been tension between Israel and the US over its Iran policy, but it took time to come to a head.
“This time, uniquely, it’s starting right away. Netanyahu has thrown the first punch,” said Parsi.
In December, Biden said in an interview that returning to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran was the best way to avoid a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.
Iran has expressed a willingness to revive the agreement, saying the country would return to full commitments if Biden lifts sanctions.
