Carter aims to reassure leaders

U. S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said he has no expectation of persuading Israeli leaders to drop their opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, but will instead emphasize that the accord imposes no limits on what Washington can do to ensure the security of Israel and U. S. Arab allies.

“Our ability to carry out that strategy is unchanged,” Carter told reporters aboard his planeen route to Tel Aviv.

The Obama administration reserves the right to use military force against Iran if necessary, he said, although the deal is intended to preclude that by resolving the issue diplomatically.

Carter is scheduled to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon on Monday and with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday before traveling to Saudi Arabia and Jordan to consult on the implications of the Iran deal and to assess progress in the regional campaign against Islamic State.