Gallant: Iran is the Biggest Threat to the Future of the World

Yoav Gallant, Israel's Defense Minister, reiterated on Tuesday during a meeting with U.S. officials in Washington that Iran's nuclear program poses a threat to the world and warned about the potential for the Islamic Republic to acquire nuclear weapons. According to a statement from the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Mr. Gallant said in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, "The biggest threat to the future of the world and our region is Iran, and there is not much time left." He stated, "Now is the time to remind the U.S. government of its long-standing commitment to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons." Israel has consistently warned about Iran's nuclear program and accused the Islamic Republic of seeking to obtain atomic weapons. Efforts are underway to reach a "diplomatic agreement" amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah following the current Gaza war, which began after an attack by the extremist group Hamas on southern Israel, with multiple Iran-aligned groups and Iran itself targeting Israel with rocket and missile attacks. On Tuesday, Yoav Gallant praised U.S. cooperation with Israel to counter "extensive Iranian attacks and its proxy groups" against Israel. This comes as Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, recently criticized the Biden administration's decision to halt military weapon shipments to Israel. Israel and the United States are also negotiating an agreement regarding Israel's response to Hezbollah's attacks. Mr. Gallant said, "We must consider every possible scenario and discuss it." Washington is attempting to find a diplomatic solution to prevent the escalation of conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah, but its efforts have been largely unsuccessful. Israel wants Hezbollah to withdraw beyond the Litani River, 30 kilometers from the border, as stated in a United Nations Security Council resolution. Gallant recently warned that Israel is preparing for a major operation in Lebanon.