On Thursday, President Joe Biden, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, signed a new joint statement that broadened the bilateral security cooperation.
What Happened?
On a conference call with reporters, a senior White House spokesperson confirmed the vow will include a reaffirmation of a commitment to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The senior White House official added, “This proclamation is quite serious and contains a pledge to never allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon and to confront Iran’s destabilizing behavior, notably threats to Israel.”
A written agreement that was signed when Biden served as vice president under President Obama will also be mentioned in the joint vow as continuing support from both the United States and Israel.
Biden defends Iran deal against Israel news scrutiny, officials tout 'important strategic ties' https://t.co/mlnUdUDIMS
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 14, 2022
A senior White House source stated the declaration “would also underscore support for the Abraham Treaties and agreements, strengthening Israel’s integration into the area, which is, of course, a subject of this trip.”
The official continued, “It will underline our commonalities about a variety of global issues, from food security to the Ukraine crisis, and obviously, support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity purity.”
Iran Nuclear Agreement
Biden stated, as he started a trip to the Middle East, he would maintain Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Platoon (IRGC) just on the U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) list.
When asked if his previous promises to stop Tehran from gaining a nuclear weapon indicated he would use force to confront Iran, Biden responded, “If that was the last resort, yeah.”
The president declared, “An Iran with nuclear bombs is the worst threat right now.”
First Trip to the Middle East by President Biden
On his tenth total journey, but his first to the Middle East as president, Biden arrived in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
Israeli Defensive Minister Benny Gantz briefed Biden on Israel’s Iron Dome defense system and a brand-new laser-based technology dubbed Iron Beam at the airport.
Iron Beam has been developed in collaboration with the U.S. Missile Defense Organization.
"It was a mistake to begin with, all of our friends in the region: Israel, Saudi, the Emiratis, Bahrainis disagreed with the deal." @MessageFromLen slams the Biden Administration's continued willingness to engage in diplomacy with Iran on a nuclear deal. https://t.co/xZg6rkQsnm pic.twitter.com/dbYXTTiOiS
— Newsmax (@newsmax) July 14, 2022
The United States has given Israel $4.8 billion for security, including $1 billion to resupply the Iron Dome during the fight with Hamas in Gaza in May 2021.
The president met with Holocaust victims after laying a wreath at the Yad Vashem memorial.
A bilateral meeting between Biden and Lapid was held on Thursday before the unified declaration was made public.
Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president, will later meet with him at his home to discuss Herzog’s latest trip to Jordan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
A new high-level strategic discussion on technology will also be started by the two nations in an effort to increase collaboration in four critical sectors.
The four areas are “artificial technology,” “climate advanced technologies,” “technology to help with potential pandemic preparedness,” and “other trusted and reliable ecosystems.”
