National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen to meet with counterpart Susan Rice to discuss Israeli concerns over pact with Iran
National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen will lead an Israeli delegation to Washington next week to discuss the ongoing negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal, as its end-of-June deadline approaches.
Cohen, who has served as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s adviser since 2013, will meet with his counterpart Susan Rice.
Additional members of the prime minister’s security council, the Foreign Ministry, various defense groups and the Atomic Energy Commission will also meet with their American parallels, Israeli daily Haaretz reported Thursday.
The US representatives are expected to update the Israeli officials on specific details of the ongoing negotiations between the P5+1 — the United States, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, plus Germany — and Iran. These negotiations are intended to come a comprehensive deal by June 30.
The visit comes days after allegations surfaced that Israel was involved in spying on the nuclear talks after a computer virus was found infecting computers in European hotels where the negotiations were ongoing. Jerusalem has denied the accusations.
In April, US President Barack Obama aimed to calm concerns over the signing of a framework agreement with Iran by ordering his advisers to consult with Jerusalem over the final deal.
“I’ve directed my national security team to consult closely with the new Israeli government in the coming weeks and months about how we can further strengthen our long-term security cooperation with Israel and make clear our unshakable commitment to Israel’s defense,” Obama said at the time.
Cohen’s team will use the opportunity to identify potential problems with the nuclear deal or issues that relate directly to Israel’s security, an anonymous official told Haaretz.
Israel has lobbied against the pact’s reported current form, which will lift sanctions in return for curbs on nuclear enrichment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the agreement will pave Iran’s path toward a nuclear weapon.
Last week, CIA director John Brennan also met with Israeli officials to discuss the deal and its security ramifications in a secret meeting.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey has met with the prime minister, the defense minister and military leaders while in Israel this week, assuring the leaders that the US is committed to protecting Israel.
“If a deal is made, we’ve got work to do. If a deal is not made, we’ve got work to do,” Dempsey said of Israel and the US during a meeting Tuesday, according to Reuters. “And I think we’ve built up enough trust and confidence in each other — military to military — that we’re prepared to do that work.”
Cohen has also been in contact with the chief European Union negotiator, Helga Schmid, and has also traveled to Britain and France to meet with their respective negotiators, Haaretz reported.
The chief negotiators of the P5+1 and Iran are expected to meet meet again Thursday to continue the discussions in Vienna, specifically regarding International Atomic Energy Agency inspections of military sites in Iran, a particularly contentious aspect of the deal..
As reported by The Times of Israel