US, Israel Will Work to Prevent Iran From Getting Nuclear Weapons: Blinken

The Iranian flag flies in front of the U.N. nuclear watchdog headquarters in Vienna on May 24, 2021. Lisi Niesner/Reuters

Ties between the United States and Israel remain “ironclad,” and the two nations will work to prevent Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon, according to America’s top diplomat.

The security and prosperity of the United States and Israel are fundamentally intertwined, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who noted that providing robust economic and security assistance to Israel remains a bipartisan priority in Washington.

“America is more secure when Israel is strong,” Blinken said at a June 5 summit of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel political action committee.

“The depth and breadth of that partnership between our governments is matched only by the strength of the ties between our peoples.”

Blinken’s comments follow shortly after the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the nation of Israel following the Holocaust.

Framing the bilateral relations within the context of “shared ideals” and “democratic values,” he said the nations share in a partnership that touches every aspect of society.

“Today, we celebrate 75 years of the U.S.–Israel partnership,” Blinken said.

“That partnership touches on every aspect of our lives from security to business to energy to public health.”

Countering aggression by Iran’s Islamist regime remains the central driving security concern for the two nations, Blinken said.

“We’re clear-eyed about the many dangers that Israel faces in all of their forms,” he said. “But there is no danger to Israel that is greater than the one posed by the Iranian regime.

“That regime routinely threatens to wipe Israel off the map. It continues to provide weapons to terrorists and proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas, who reject Israel’s right to exist.”

The United States provides $3.8 billion in annual security assistance to Israel as part of a 2018 memorandum of understanding. That has allowed the Jewish state to meaningfully improve its missile defense systems, upgrade its F-35 aircraft, and maintain the Iron Dome air defense system, which shoots down frequent rockets launched at Israeli territory by terrorists.

The United States will also work to make good on a joint declaration signed with Israel last year, Blinken said. That declaration outlined both nations’ dedication to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

The Iranian regime has increased its efforts to enrich uranium since then-U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally terminated a bilateral nuclear agreement that had placed limits on such activities.

Now, Iran’s uranium enrichment processes have advanced to a point that CIA Director William Burns warned in February that the regime could develop a nuclear weapon this year if they chose to. However, he clarified that he doesn’t believe that the regime had committed to such a course of action.

The Biden administration has since boosted its efforts to seek new talks with the regime, raising concerns that it might be willing to tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran.

Blinken restated that the administration wouldn’t tolerate such a development and was willing to use any means necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

“Iran cannot and will not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon,” he said.

“If Iran rejects the path of diplomacy, then, as President Biden has repeatedly made clear, all options are on the table to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.”