US President Joe Biden has reaffirmed that his country will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.
In a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Biden said: "We discussed the commitment of the United States not to acquire nuclear weapons, and I continue to believe that the best way to reach this goal is through diplomacy," stressing that "we will continue to work with Israel to roll back Iran's threats in the region, stop supporting terrorists and the ballistic missile programme and ensure that weapons are not transferred to its proxies like Hezbollah."
He added: "We repeat and we will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons."
"We are dealing with partners on the security architecture in the region and regional security in relation to Iran's terrorist policies," Lapid said, stressing that "Israel reserves its freedom to act against Iran, the United States shares our decisions and we will not allow Iran to become a nuclear state."
Lapid vows: There will be no nuclear Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and US President Joe Biden discussed halting Iran's nuclear programme and building a coalition of moderate countries in the Middle East, pledging that there would be no nuclear Iran.
"We also talked about Saudi Arabia and Biden's trip there, which is very important to Israel, trying to build a more moderate coalition here in the Middle East, which has been needed for a long time," Lapid said during the meeting.
He added:
- "We have discussed the Iranian threat
- what we think is the right thing to do to make sure
- something we share, that there will be no nuclear Iran.
- This is not only a threat to Israel but to the whole world.
- We discussed some other issues that we will not disclose. "
"We talked about the importance from my point of view of Israel being fully integrated into the region, completing its integration," Biden said, stressing that "the vast majority of the American public, not just my administration, is fully dedicated to Israel's security, without any doubt."
Biden: Worse than Iran now exists is its presence with nuclear weapons
- US President Joe Biden says he still believes the US should return to Iran's nuclear deal, noting the situation is now in Tehran's hands.
- In an interview with Israel's Channel 12, asked why he thought the nuclear deal should be revived
- Biden said that "the only thing worse than Iran now exists is Iran's presence with nuclear weapons"
- noting that "Iran is closer today to a nuclear weapon than it was before."
"I still think it makes sense to join the deal, and it's up to Iran now," he added, considering that his predecessor Donald Trump's withdrawal from the deal was a "terrible mistake."
Asked about the "undeniable gap" between progressive Democrats and him on Israel, Biden said, "There are a few of them. I think they're wrong. I think they're making a mistake. Israel is a democracy. Israel is our ally ".