The Commander of the US Army Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael Kurilla, who is conducting a tour of the area, recently visited Israel, during which he participated in a situation assessment held at the General Staff post (“The Pit”), as part of the “Chariots of Fire”— an exercise that simulates war for an entire month. In briefings by IDF officials, it was emphasized that for the first time in years, the exercise will also include training in attacking targets in Iran using Israeli fighter jets. It was also reported the US Air Force will take part in the exercise through aerial refueling of Israeli fighter jets on the way to the attack. At the same time, Defense Minister Gantz is visiting the US, during which he met with the National Security Adviser and the Defense Secretary.
On the eve of his departure for Washington, Gantz noted the vast progress made in the Iranian nuclear program while making it clear that “prices for tackling the Iranian challenge in global and regional aspects today are higher than they were a year ago and lower than they will be in a year.” The broad public response given in Israel to the IDF’s annual exercise, alongside the US Secretary of Defense’s visit, was intended to send a message of urgency to Washington to address Iranian progress, alongside a deterrent message to Iran. Recent publications emphasizing American involvement in the exercise could also serve the administration in an attempt to pressure the Iranian regime to make concessions to allow for a return to the agreement.
The US administration, of course, sees the schedule differently and in the words of a senior US official off the record, there is no significance in delaying nuclear talks for the next two to three months. The Europeans, meanwhile, are trying to promote compromise formulas that will allow the closure of understandings and a return to the agreement. From past experience, Israel must take into account that fears of Israel’s intention to attack Iran have only strengthened the determination to quickly reach an agreement with Iran. The symbolism of the visit of the commander of CENTCOM to the “pit” and even American involvement in the exercise do not indicate a change in US policy, which continues to see reaching an agreement as the best solution. Iran’s progress in the field of enrichment does bother the administration, but in the absence of a smoking gun for the existence of a military nuclear program and given the build-up of challenges facing the administration in the international arena, it is not currently considering military ways to address the issue.
The Commander of the US Army Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael Kurilla, who is conducting a tour of the area, recently visited Israel, during which he participated in a situation assessment held at the General Staff post (“The Pit”), as part of the “Chariots of Fire”— an exercise that simulates war for an entire month. In briefings by IDF officials, it was emphasized that for the first time in years, the exercise will also include training in attacking targets in Iran using Israeli fighter jets. It was also reported the US Air Force will take part in the exercise through aerial refueling of Israeli fighter jets on the way to the attack. At the same time, Defense Minister Gantz is visiting the US, during which he met with the National Security Adviser and the Defense Secretary.
On the eve of his departure for Washington, Gantz noted the vast progress made in the Iranian nuclear program while making it clear that “prices for tackling the Iranian challenge in global and regional aspects today are higher than they were a year ago and lower than they will be in a year.” The broad public response given in Israel to the IDF’s annual exercise, alongside the US Secretary of Defense’s visit, was intended to send a message of urgency to Washington to address Iranian progress, alongside a deterrent message to Iran. Recent publications emphasizing American involvement in the exercise could also serve the administration in an attempt to pressure the Iranian regime to make concessions to allow for a return to the agreement.
The US administration, of course, sees the schedule differently and in the words of a senior US official off the record, there is no significance in delaying nuclear talks for the next two to three months. The Europeans, meanwhile, are trying to promote compromise formulas that will allow the closure of understandings and a return to the agreement. From past experience, Israel must take into account that fears of Israel’s intention to attack Iran have only strengthened the determination to quickly reach an agreement with Iran. The symbolism of the visit of the commander of CENTCOM to the “pit” and even American involvement in the exercise do not indicate a change in US policy, which continues to see reaching an agreement as the best solution. Iran’s progress in the field of enrichment does bother the administration, but in the absence of a smoking gun for the existence of a military nuclear program and given the build-up of challenges facing the administration in the international arena, it is not currently considering military ways to address the issue.