US Defense Secretary Meets Israeli Counterpart: We Stand with Israel to Ensure Iran Does Not Acquire Nuclear Weapons

Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defense, during a meeting with his Israeli counterpart, described the Iranian government as "the source of much violence and instability in the region" and emphasized that the United States stands with Israel to ensure that the Islamic Republic can never acquire nuclear weapons. Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Defense Minister, also stated in this meeting, which took place on Tuesday, July 5, at the Pentagon, that the time to confront the Islamic Republic's acquisition of nuclear weapons is running out. He stressed that Israel and the US must cooperate to prevent this threat from becoming a reality, noting that the Islamic Republic of Iran is the "greatest threat" to the future of the world and the region. The Israeli Defense Minister added, "The time has come to fulfill the commitments of past years by the US regarding preventing the Islamic Republic of Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons." Earlier on Monday, Western countries in the UN Security Council expressed concern over the Islamic Republic's nuclear activities and warned Tehran about the possibility of activating the "snapback mechanism." Activating the snapback mechanism, which is provided for in UN Security Council Resolution 2231 for the implementation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, would lead to the resumption of all international sanctions against Tehran. The meeting of senior US and Israeli defense officials occurred amid rising border tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which is supported by the Islamic Republic, in recent weeks, fueling international concerns about the Islamic Republic and its proxy groups joining the war and escalating it. The US Defense Secretary emphasized that Hezbollah's provocative actions are leading the people of Israel and Lebanon into a war they do not want, and such a war, according to Lloyd Austin, would be a "catastrophe" for Lebanon and would harm innocent civilians in both Israel and Lebanon. The escalation of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah; Israel's representative at the UN: They will pay the price with an all-out war. New construction at two Iranian nuclear sites; Washington Post: The speed of enriched uranium production at Fordow may triple. The US and Israel are reviewing new information about the Islamic Republic's nuclear activities. Israel has called for international cooperation to counter cyberattacks from the Islamic Republic.