US tries to allay Israeli fears over Iran accord

TEL AVIV // US defence secretary Ashton Carter was in Israel yesterday to ease concerns over the nuclear deal with Iran, assuring the state that it remains the “bedrock of American strategy” in the region.

Israel was Mr Carter’s first stop on a regional tour following last week’s agreement between Iran and world powers.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the deal with Iran, arguing that it is not enough to keep it from obtaining nuclear weapons that could be used to target his country.

He has also signalled that military force remains an option to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, though experts say unilateral strikes by Israel appear unlikely for now.

Mr Carter said before meeting Israel’s defence minister Moshe Yaalon that the two countries would “work together to maintain our safety and security in this troubled region”.

Mr Yaalon avoided mentioning their disagreements . He said before the meeting that “we share common interests as well as common values”.

Israel is believed to be the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons. The US grants the country US$3 billion (Dh11bn) in military aid each year in addition to spending on other projects, such as the Iron Dome missile defence system.

There have been suggestions that Israel could receive additional compensation to help it defend itself against the threat it says the Iranian nuclear deal now poses, but Mr Netanyahu has so far shown no sign of tempering his criticism.

Israeli army radio cited defence ministry officials yesterday as saying they were ready to begin discussing such compensation, but Mr Netanyahu has been hesitant because he believed it would signal acceptance of the agreement. Mr Netanyahu will now turn his attention to the US Congress, which has 60 days to review the agreement.