As part of his current tour in the Middle East region, US President Joe Biden met with former Israeli Prime Minister and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.
The meeting was the first between the two sides since Biden became president last year.
An Israeli newspaper reported that talks between Biden and Netanyahu focused on Iran’s nuclear file.
Following the meeting, Netanyahu said, “I told him that with no credible military option, Iran won’t be stopped. If Iran isn’t deterred, that military option has to be used.”
Sanctions and defensive military preparations were not enough to deter Iran, the opposition leader insisted.
Adding that the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers was “lousy,” he stated, “There must be a credible offensive military option.”
Netanyahu further stated, “That’s my position, that’s my commitment, and I greatly hope that that is the American position.”
Negotiations between Iran and world powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, from which Washington withdrew in 2018, are opposed by Israel.
As part of a regional tour that also includes the West Bank and Saudi Arabia, Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday.
