BICOM

Returning from a visit to Israel, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey said the two countries are in harmony over preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Speaking to reporters, Dempsey said Israel is “satisfied that we [United States] have the capability to use a military option if the Iranians choose to stray off the diplomatic path,” adding, “I think they are satisfied we have the capability. I think they believe we will use it.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been critical of the six-month deal struck by the United States and other members of the P5+1 group (UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) with Iran in November, under which Tehran agreed to reduce but not end its uranium enrichment in return for a loosening of international sanctions. Dempsey acknowledged that there had been a difference of opinion in this regard between Israel and the US, but added “Our clocks are more harmonized than they were two years ago” and that Israel “just wanted to know that we are maintaining and continuing to refine our military options.”

During his two-day visit to Israel, Dempsey met with senior Israeli political and military leaders. On Monday, he held a joint press conference with IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and both were asked whether they had the capability to halt Iran’s nuclear programme. Gantz commented “Obviously we will keep our capabilities to ourselves, but we do emphasize that the capability is very much there,” while Dempsey said that US President Obama has said he will not permit Iran to obtain nuclear weapons and “My role … is to make sure that I provide him [President Obama] with the military options necessary to live up to that commitment, and we will.”