US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan arrived in Israel on Tuesday as the head of a US delegation for meetings with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and other top officials. Talks on Iran are among the strategic issues to be discussed, The Times of Israel reported.
“Sullivan will also participate in the fourth meeting of the Strategic Consultative Group (SCG) alongside Israeli counterpart Eyal Hulata. The SCG is a bilateral group aimed at collaborating in the effort to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” the report said.
US envoy to the Middle East Brett McGurk and the State Department’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Yael Lempert are also among the delegation.
Last week, European diplomats warned that nuclear negotiations in Vienna to save the 2015 nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran are “rapidly reaching the end of the road.”
Former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018, deeming it insufficient to shut down projects with bomb-making potential. Iran denies seeking nuclear arms, but has breached the deal with expanded uranium enrichment.
US President Joe Biden has sought a return to the JCPOA, but Iran’s requests and changing of stances prevent the parties from reaching an agreement.
The talks are currently on pause upon Iran's request. According to a report by the Jerusalem Post, an unidentified diplomat said they would resume on Dec. 27, while another unnamed diplomat said they would resume between Christmas and the New Year.
