WH consults Israel over Iran nuclear deal

President Obama’s national security adviser, Susan Rice, met with Israeli officials at the White House last week to discuss the interim deal reached over Iran’s nuclear program.

Rice and Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken hosted Israeli national security adviser Yossi Cohen, the White House said in a statement Sunday. 

Senior officials from the State and Treasury departments also joined the meeting, which focused on efforts to pursue a “lasting and comprehensive settlement” on Iran’s nuclear program.

{mosads}“During the meetings, the U.S. team reaffirmed President Obama’s goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” the White House said.

The meeting was the first known step made since Obama promised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month that the United States would consult Israel over the interim nuclear deal.

The deal the U.S. and its allies reached with Iran last month weakens Iran’s nuclear program over a six-month period. If Iran complies with the first deal, negotiating partners aim to reach a final deal over the program.

Even before the deal was announced, Netanyahu had expressed it was a “bad deal” and lobbied the Obama administration to not negotiate with Iran.

A week ago, Netanyahu took a step back and told the Brookings Institution’s Saban Forum that he was willing to give diplomacy a chance regarding Iran.

For diplomacy to succeed, however, “it must be coupled with powerful sanctions and a credible military threat,” he said, adding that “Israel is prepared to do what is necessary to defend itself.”