Noem, who ended a trip to Israel on Monday, described her interactions with Netanyahu as “candid and direct.” Her remarks come a day after Rome’s fifth round of nuclear negotiations between US and Iranian officials ended.
She said, “President Trump specifically invited me here to talk with the prime minister about how the negotiations are proceeding and how crucial it is that we stay united and allow this process to unfold.”
Trump claimed on Sunday that the talks were moving smoothly.
The US president told reporters, “We’ve had some very, very good conversations with Iran.” And I have a feeling that I might be telling you something good over the next two days.
Despite US-led discussions, CNN reported last week that Israel was preparing to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, citing unnamed US officials.
Netanyahu is accused of working to undermine US diplomacy, and Iran has pledged to do everything to stop any Israeli attack.
Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian minister of foreign affairs, stated last week that the Israeli prime minister is “desperate to dictate what the US can and cannot do.”
Netanyahu has consistently claimed for years that Iran is about to acquire a nuclear bomb, and Israel has been skeptical about the nuclear negotiations. Iran, which supports regional organizations engaged in armed conflict against Israel, is seen by Israeli officials as a significant threat.
Noem stated on Monday that Netanyahu doesn’t trust Iran, and that the US is aware of this.
The American people are being told that while we have a president who wants peace, he also won’t allow Iran to have nuclear weapons in the future. This president won’t permit them to possess nuclear weapons, and they will be unable to do so”, she said.
He also wants Benjamin Netanyahu to be on the same page with him, though.
Iran’s refusal to allow its own uranium enrichment was a major sticking point in the discussions.
Iranian officials have stated that they want Iran to end its nuclear program and to completely stop enriching it, a position Tehran has called a nonstarter.
The uranium atom is altered to produce nuclear fuel during enrichment.
According to Iranian officials, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) does not forbid the use of nuclear weapons for civilian purposes.
Tehran claims to be seeking nuclear weapons, but Israel is frequently portrayed as having an unproven nuclear arsenal.
Trump resisted the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which demanded that Iran reduce its nuclear program in exchange for lifting international sanctions against its economy, during his first term, in 2018.
The US has since imposed sanctions on Iran. Tehran has increased its nuclear program in response.
Iran ruled out uranium enrichment for a day on Monday in order to reach an interim agreement with the US.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei emphasized that Iran does not want to delay the talks.
Source: Aljazeera
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