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Biden uneasy about Israeli boasts after targeting Iranian sites 

April 19, 2021 at 4:02 pm

Thumbnail – Iran: Israel behind Natanz nuclear plant outage, vows revenge

The administration of US President Joe Biden has conveyed several messages to the Israeli government recently, through which it expressed unease over Israel’s attacks against Iranian targets, Yedioth Ahronoth has reported.

The attacks have taken place in parallel with the start of indirect talks between Washington and Tehran in Vienna.

The Israeli newspaper added that Washington has expressed its anger, especially about Israel’s “boastfulness” after targeting Iranian sites. This crisis embarrasses Washington and is likely to harm the negotiations with Tehran.

Biden’s messages precede a scheduled visit by Mossad head Yossi Cohen and Chairman of the Israeli National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat to Washington in the coming weeks. The visit is part of a strategic dialogue with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to hold a meeting of the ministerial council for political and security affairs, during which officials will discuss escalating tension with Iran, following Tehran’s announcement that it has started to enrich uranium to 60 per cent purity.

READ: Iran asks Interpol to arrest suspect of Natanz nuclear facility attack

The Israeli state-owned television channel Kan 11 said that the ministers will hear reports about developments related to Iran and the investigation that is expected to be conducted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding war crimes alleged to have been committed by Israel during the military offensive against Gaza in 2014. The issue of Israel’s illegal settlements will also be on the agenda.

Israel has launched several attacks against Iranian oil tankers and ships, the latest of which was the bombing of the cargo ship Saviz, which prompted Iran to respond with limited attacks on two cargo ships which were partially Israeli-owned. Meanwhile, Mossad bombed the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran, causing massive damage.

Experts and military analysts in Israel have indicated that the Israeli attacks against Iranian targets are aimed at influencing the negotiations between Washington and Tehran regarding America’s potential return to the 2015 nuclear deal. They noted that Netanyahu is creating tension deliberately in order to convince political parties of the existence of a security emergency and the necessity to join his new government, which he is finding hard to put together.

READ: IAEA confirms Iran has started enriching uranium to 60% purity