Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said on Tuesday that Israel and the United States have agreed that one country will not make decisions related to Iran and Iran’s nuclear deal without first informing the other.
“If anyone thought that the Americans would run to an agreement with Iran – it hasn’t happened so far, and I hope it doesn’t happen going forward,” Ashkenazi said in a Zoom call with Israeli representatives to East Asia and the Pacific, confirming that the relationship with Biden’s administration was good and that he has been in close contact with his U.S. counterpart, Anthony Blinken.
“It is decided by a small forum in which the prime minister, the defense minister, the foreign minister and the heads of the defense center enter into contact with them in a non-violent way, discussing the interests of Israel and how you will create a very good agreement that will protect Israeli and regional interests and prevent a nuclear Iran. Our policy is to personally discontinue this communication and to converse professionally with Americans as allies. “
He also said he expected Israel to establish relations with more Arab countries in 2021 after normalizing ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco the previous year, saying “it is not a question if so, but under condition. “
Ashkenazi also said that one of the aims of his ministry is to develop relations with nearby Jordan and Egypt, and to expand cooperation with them at the industry level as well.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ashkenazi met his Jordanian group, Ayman Safadi, at the Allenby Crossroads between West Bank and Jordan.
The two discussed progressive cooperation between the two countries and economic and civil issues involving the Palestinians, they read a statement from Ashekanzi’s office.
This was the third such meeting between the ministers at Allenby Crossing.