Biden says US will use all 鈥榥ational power鈥� to stop Iran atomic bomb

The leaders will sign a joint declaration emphasizing military cooperation. (AFP)
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  • The United States and Israel have separately made veiled statements about possible preemptive war with Iran
  • Some Israeli as well as Gulf Arab officials believe the deal鈥檚 sanctions relief would provide Iran with far more money to support proxy forces

JERUSALEM: President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday discussed Iran鈥檚 rapidly progressing nuclear program, with the Israeli leader vowing afterward that 鈥渢here will be no nuclear Iran.鈥�
The US president, who is set to travel to 萝莉视频 on Friday, said he also stressed to Lapid the importance of Israel becoming 鈥渢otally integrated鈥� in the region.
Their one-on-one talks are the centerpiece of a 48-hour visit by Biden aimed at strengthening already tight relations between the USand Israel. The leaders also issued a joint declaration emphasizing military cooperation and a commitment to preventing Iran, which Israel considers an enemy, from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
鈥淲e discussed the Iranian threat,鈥� Lapid told reporters afterward. 鈥淭here will be no nuclear Iran.鈥�
Israeli officials have sought to use Biden鈥檚 first visit to the Middle East as president to underscore that Iran鈥檚 nuclear program has progressed too far and e ncourage the Biden administration t o scuttle efforts to revive a 2015 agreement with Iran to limit its development.
Resurrecting the Iran nuclear deal brokered by Barack Obama鈥檚 administration and abandoned by Donald Trump in 2018 was a key priority for Biden as he entered office. But administration officials have become increasingly pessimistic about the chances of getting Tehran back into compliance.
In the joint statement, the United States said it is ready to use 鈥渁ll elements of its national power鈥� to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb.
Biden, in an interview with Israel鈥檚 Channel 12 that aired Wednesday, offered strong assurances of his determination to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power, saying he鈥檇 be willing to use force as a 鈥渓ast resort鈥� if necessary.
Iran announced last week that it has enriched uranium to 60 percent purity, a technical step away from weapons-grade quality.
The joint declaration being announced Thursday could hold important symbolic importance for Biden鈥檚 meeting this weekend with Arab leaders in 萝莉视频 as he seeks to strengthen a regionwide alliance against Iran.
鈥淚 talked about how important it was 鈥� for Israel to be totally integrated in the region,鈥� Biden said after the one-on-one meeting with Lapid.
Thursday鈥檚 meeting could also provide a boost to Lapid, who is serving as interim prime minister until elections in November, Israel鈥檚 fifth in less than four years. Lapid鈥檚 main opponent is the former prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the joint appearance with Biden could help burnish his credentials as a statesman and leader.
Biden and Lapid also scheduled a joint news conference Thursday and participated in a virtual summit with India and the United Arab Emirates, a collection of countries called the I2U2. The United Arab Emirates announced it will help finance a $2 billion project supporting agriculture in India.
Lapid, 58, is a former journalist and television anchor who entered politics only a decade ago. He served as finance minister under Netanyahu, the country鈥檚 longest-serving prime minister, before becoming leader of the opposition and cobbling together a diverse, eight-party coalition ending Netanyahu鈥檚 government.
Naftali Bennett became prime minister, with Lapid as his foreign minister. But the coalition collapsed after months of infighting, and Bennett agreed to step aside for Lapid until the election.
Lapid worked hard to solidify his credentials as a statesman while foreign minister. His aides believe the private face time, public appearances and demonstrations of friendship with Biden 鈥� who, at 79, is making his 10th trip to Israel 鈥� will strengthen that image and get the electorate more comfortable with the idea of Lapid as their leader.
However, Netanyahu is running for prime minister again, and opinion polls have projected that his conservative Likud party will win the most seats in the next election, well ahead of Lapid鈥檚 centrist Yesh Atid party.
Neither party is poised to singlehandedly capture the majority of seats needed to form a government, and it is unclear whether either man could cobble together a ruling coalition with smaller parties.
Biden played down the political uncertainty in an interview with Israel鈥檚 Channel 12 that aired Wednesday.
鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to the state, not an individual leader,鈥� he said.
Biden didn鈥檛 mention the election during the public portion of Thursday鈥檚 meeting with Lapid, but told reporters 鈥渨e had a good beginning of a long, God willing, relationship.鈥�
Biden is expected to meet only briefly with Netanyahu, with whom who he鈥檚 had a rocky relationship in the past.
Much like Lapid, Biden also faces a political threat from his predecessor. Trump, an ally of Netanyahu who still enjoys strong support from Republican voters despite his attempt to overturn the last election, may run for another term.
Asked by Channel 12 if he expected a rematch, Biden replied, 鈥淚鈥檓 not predicting, but I would not be disappointed.鈥�
Given the US鈥檚 status as Israel鈥檚 closest and most important ally, Biden is at the center of the country鈥檚 attention during his visit.
Israel staged an elaborate welcoming ceremony for him at the Tel Aviv airport, including a red carpet and a band that played the national anthem of both countries. Major television channels set up special live coverage of Biden鈥檚 arrival, and even broadcast a nonstop loop of his motorcade traveling on the highway to Jerusalem.
Israel opposed the original nuclear deal, reached under President Obama in 2015, because its limitations on Iran鈥檚 nuclear enrichment would expire and the agreement didn鈥檛 address Iran鈥檚 ballistic missile program or military activities in the region.
Instead of the US reentering the deal, which Trump withdrew from in 2018, Israel would prefer strict sanctions in hopes of leading to a more sweeping accord.
Biden also will receive Israel鈥檚 top civilian honor, the presidential medal of honor, from President Isaac Herzog on Thursday.
He鈥檚 also scheduled to meet with US athletes participating in the Maccabiah Games. Also known as the 鈥淛ewish Olympics,鈥� it鈥檚 the country鈥檚 largest sporting event and held every four years for Israeli and Jewish athletes from all over world.