Joe Biden receives Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in Washington

Published on : 06/29/2021 – 01:30

US President Joe Biden assured his Israeli counterpart on Monday (June 28) that the United States would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons, ahead of a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon while I’m here,” Joe Biden told President Reuven Rivlin at the White House. After their meeting, Reuven Rivlin told reporters he was “very satisfied” with the Democratic president’s comments on Iran.

Joe Biden on the other hand brushed aside criticisms from Congress, who questioned his authority to order strikes against pro-Iran militia positions on the Iraqi-Syrian border. “I have this authority,” he argued.

Resetting relationships

The close relationship between Israel and the United States came through a difficult time when Joe Biden replaced Donald Trump in January. However, the formation of a new government with Naftali Bennett at its head, following the fall of Donald Trump’s ally, Benjamin Netanyahu, paved the way for a resetting of relations, as well as an upcoming visit from the new one. Prime Minister.

On Sunday, the new head of Israeli diplomacy Yair Lapid expressed to his American counterpart Antony Blinken “the strong reservations” of the Hebrew state regarding the negotiations to relaunch the Iran nuclear deal.

But he also said he wanted to settle the differences of view with Washington behind the scenes, breaking with former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We believe that these differences [entre Israël et les États-Unis] should be discussed in direct and professional exchanges, “he said.

With AFP