Biden urges 'quiet diplomacy' in Jerusalem on Iran nuclear deal
US president meets Israeli caretaker PM in bid to reassure Israel about ongoing negotiations with Iran President Biden sought to calm Israeli fears of a potential nuclear deal with Iran as he began a Middle East tour on Wednesday July 13 2022
US President Joe Biden has urged "quiet diplomacy" in Jerusalem on the Iran nuclear deal as he met with Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid in a bid to reassure Israel about ongoing negotiations with Iran.
Biden, who is on a four-day trip to the Middle East, said he was "confident" that the US and Israel could work together to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. However, he also said that he believed diplomacy was the best way to achieve this goal.
"I believe that through quiet and determined diplomacy we can succeed in keeping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," Biden said. "I'm confident that we can do this together. "
Lapid, for his part, said that Israel was "deeply concerned" about the potential for a nuclear deal with Iran. He said that such a deal would be a "mistake" and that it would "embolden" Iran.
"We believe that a nuclear deal with Iran would be a grave mistake," Lapid said. "It would give Iran the resources and the legitimacy to continue its aggression in the region."
The meeting between Biden and Lapid came as the US and Iran are engaged in indirect talks on a new nuclear deal. The talks, which have been ongoing for months, are aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal that was reached between Iran and world powers.
The 2015 deal limited Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the US withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
The Biden administration has said that it is committed to returning to the 2015 deal if Iran complies with its terms. However, Iran has said that it will not return to the deal unless the US lifts all sanctions.
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