US and Israel consider military drills for Iran scenario as nuclear talks stutter
- Discussions about possible military options seen as attempt to pressure Iran at Vienna talks to revive nuclear accord
- Iran has reportedly been enriching uranium at a nuclear site built inside a mountain, making it harder to attack
US and Israeli defence chiefs were to expected to discuss possible military exercises that would prepare for a worst-case scenario to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities should diplomacy fail and if their nations’ leaders request it, a senior US official said.
Scheduled US talks with visiting Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz on Thursday follow an October 25 briefing by Pentagon leaders to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on the full set of military options available to ensure that Iran would not be able to produce a nuclear weapon, the official said on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, saying it wants to master nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
But US and European officials have voiced dismay after talks last week at sweeping demands by Iran’s new, hardline government, heightening suspicions in the West that Iran is playing for time while advancing its nuclear programme.
The US official declined to offer details on the potential military exercises.
“We’re in this pickle because Iran’s nuclear programme is advancing to a point beyond which it has any conventional rationale,” the official said, while still voicing hope for discussions.