Space X will seek an exception from US sanctions for providing&nbsp;satellite internet services to Iran,&nbsp;its owner Elon Musk said on Monday, responding to a tweet from a science reporter.&nbsp;

Erfan Kasarei, a science journalist, tweeted that expanding services to Iran might be a "real game changer" for the future of the country, prompting Musk's response.&nbsp;

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Starlink will ask for an exemption to Iranian sanctions in this regard
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1571988764947320832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Iran has been subject to strict US sanctions since former US President Donald Trump terminated the Iran-US nuclear deal over Iran's nuclear activities.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranian-president-ebrahim-raisi-demands-us-guarantee-to-resume-nuclear-deal-517700">Also read |&nbsp;Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi demands US guarantee to resume nuclear deal</a>

Tehran has repeatedly requested talks with Washington, and even the current US President Joe Biden wants to resume the deal, but this time Iran wants strong guarantees that no future American president will cancel it,&nbsp; AFP reported.

Launched in 2020, Starlink aims to provide effortless and strong connectivity to its customers on every continent, even in Antarctica, through its constellations of satellites in low earth orbit, Elon Musk claimed in his initial statements.&nbsp;

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Starlink is now active on all continents, including Antarctica <a href="https://t.co/Q1VvqV5G0i">https://t.co/Q1VvqV5G0i</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1571702286854004736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Space X gained attention after providing antennas and modems to the Ukrainian military to help it enhance its communications during its ongoing conflict with Russia.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musks-tesla-ai-will-be-smarter-than-humans-by-2033-study-517735">Also read |&nbsp;By 2033, Elon Musk's Tesla and its&nbsp;AI will be smarter than humans: Study</a>

Till now, nearly 3,000 Starlink satellites have been launched into Earth's low orbit. The company intends to launch 42,000 satellites to boost connectivity for its customers. The company is taking all possible actions to make it possible by launching at least one satellite every week with its own Falcon 9 rockets.&nbsp;

In response to a recent&nbsp;significant cyberattack against Albania carried out by Iranian intelligence in July, the US imposed additional sanctions on Iran.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Space X will seek an exception from US sanctions for providing satellite internet services to Iran, its owner Elon Musk said on Monday, responding to a tweet from a science reporter.

Space X will seek an exception from US sanctions for providing satellite internet services to Iran, its owner Elon Musk said on Monday, responding to a tweet from a science reporter. Erfan Kasarei, a science journalist, tweeted that expanding services to Iran might be a "real game changer" for the future of the country, prompting Musk's response. Starlink will ask for an exemption to Iranian sanctions in this regard — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 19, 2022 × Iran has been subject to strict US sanctions since former US President Donald Trump terminated the Iran-US nuclear deal over Iran's nuclear activities. Also read | Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi demands US guarantee to resume nuclear deal Tehran has repeatedly requested talks with Washington, and even the current US President Joe Biden wants to resume the deal, but this time Iran wants strong guarantees that no future American president will cancel it, AFP reported. Launched in 2020, Starlink aims to provide effortless and strong connectivity to its customers on every continent, even in Antarctica, through its constellations of satellites in low earth orbit, Elon Musk claimed in his initial statements. Starlink is now active on all continents, including Antarctica https://t.co/Q1VvqV5G0i — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 19, 2022 × Space X gained attention after providing antennas and modems to the Ukrainian military to help it enhance its communications during its ongoing conflict with Russia. Also read | By 2033, Elon Musk's Tesla and its AI will be smarter than humans: Study Till now, nearly 3,000 Starlink satellites have been launched into Earth's low orbit. The company intends to launch 42,000 satellites to boost connectivity for its customers. The company is taking all possible actions to make it possible by launching at least one satellite every week with its own Falcon 9 rockets. In response to a recent significant cyberattack against Albania carried out by Iranian intelligence in July, the US imposed additional sanctions on Iran. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Space X will seek exemption from US sanctions to provide internet services in Iran, says Musk

In an interview on Monday (Sept 19), Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated that Tehran would be serious about resuming a deal on its nuclear programme if the US promised to not withdraw from it.

Iran's foreign minister last month urged UN atomic watchdogs to stop interfering in Tehran's nuclear work and stated that Tehran needs a firmer guarantee from Washington to resume the 2015 deal. According to the agreement, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from economic sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-of-iranian-woman-after-arrest-by-moral-police-unforgivable-white-house-516956">Also read |&nbsp;Death of Iranian woman after arrest by moral police 'unforgivable': White House</a>

In an interview with CBS, Raisi said, "If it’s a good deal and fair deal, we would be serious about reaching an agreement," Reuters reported.

In his last week's UN General Assembly visit, Raisi said, "It needs to be lasting. There need to be guarantees. If there were a guarantee, then the Americans could not withdraw from the deal. " He further stated that the Americans broke the commitment on the deal.&nbsp;

They did it unilaterally. They said, 'I am out of the deal.' Now making promises is becoming meaningless," he said. "We cannot trust the Americans because of the behaviour that we have already seen from them. That is why if there is no guarantee, there is no trust, "Raisi said, Reuters reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-supreme-leader-going-through-recovery-after-falling-ill-cancels-all-meetings-516910">Also read |&nbsp;Iran’s supreme leader recovering at residence after undergoing surgery, cancels all meetings</a>

During the months of negotiations in Vienna, Tehran requested that no future US president violate the agreement, as former President Donald Trump did in 2018. These negotiations in March seemed as if they could be revived, but due to indirect negotiations between both, they collapsed on a number of issues.

However, there has been no indication that both Tehran and Washington would be able to overcome their impasse. Iran is anticipated to utilise the UN General Assembly to keep the diplomatic process moving, desiring to establish a lasting agreement.

However, because the agreement is a political understanding rather than a legally binding treaty, President Joe Biden is unable to give Iran the guarantee.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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In an interview on Monday (Sept 19), Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated that Tehran would be serious about resuming a deal on its nuclear programme if the US promised to not withdraw from it.

In an interview on Monday (Sept 19), Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated that Tehran would be serious about resuming a deal on its nuclear programme if the US promised to not withdraw from it. Iran's foreign minister last month urged UN atomic watchdogs to stop interfering in Tehran's nuclear work and stated that Tehran needs a firmer guarantee from Washington to resume the 2015 deal. According to the agreement, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for relief from economic sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations. Also read | Death of Iranian woman after arrest by moral police 'unforgivable': White House In an interview with CBS, Raisi said, "If it’s a good deal and fair deal, we would be serious about reaching an agreement," Reuters reported. In his last week's UN General Assembly visit, Raisi said, "It needs to be lasting. There need to be guarantees. If there were a guarantee, then the Americans could not withdraw from the deal. " He further stated that the Americans broke the commitment on the deal. They did it unilaterally. They said, 'I am out of the deal.' Now making promises is becoming meaningless," he said. "We cannot trust the Americans because of the behaviour that we have already seen from them. That is why if there is no guarantee, there is no trust, "Raisi said, Reuters reported. Also read | Iran’s supreme leader recovering at residence after undergoing surgery, cancels all meetings During the months of negotiations in Vienna, Tehran requested that no future US president violate the agreement, as former President Donald Trump did in 2018. These negotiations in March seemed as if they could be revived, but due to indirect negotiations between both, they collapsed on a number of issues. However, there has been no indication that both Tehran and Washington would be able to overcome their impasse. Iran is anticipated to utilise the UN General Assembly to keep the diplomatic process moving, desiring to establish a lasting agreement. However, because the agreement is a political understanding rather than a legally binding treaty, President Joe Biden is unable to give Iran the guarantee. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi demands US guarantee to resume nuclear deal

The foreign ministry&nbsp;of Iran said that the country has received&nbsp;a response from the United States on Wednesday to its suggestions on the final European Union draft&nbsp;for the renewal of the 2015 nuclear deal.

The declaration comes a day after Washington claimed that Iran had agreed to relax important conditions that had prevented the resumption of the 2015 agreement that former president Donald Trump had slammed.

A day before, Tehran had blasted the US for being reluctant to respond to its offers.

"Tehran received this evening via the (EU) coordinator, the response from the US government over the Islamic Republic of Iran's opinions on the outstanding issues in the negotiations to lift sanctions," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said, as reported by AFP.

"The process of carefully reviewing the US opinions has begun, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will announce its opinion in this context to the coordinator after it completes its review," Kanani added, without providing further details.

Iran provided its suggestions last week over the final text that the EU, which has coordinated discussions in Vienna on renewing the treaty, sent on August 8.&nbsp;

Washington also acknowledged that it had responded to Iran's offers following Tehran's statement.&nbsp;

In 2015, Iran and six major world powers—Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States—agreed to a deal that lifted sanctions in return for limits on the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the agreement is officially known, was created to stop Iran from creating a nuclear weapon, something it has always denied wanting to do.&nbsp;

The news from Iran comes as Israel, Iran's arch-enemy, has urged Western nations to put an end to negotiations to revive the pact and warned against the repercussions of doing so.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

The foreign ministry of Iran said that the country has received a response from the United States on Wednesday to its suggestions on the final European Union draft for the renewal of the 2015 nuclear deal.

The foreign ministry of Iran said that the country has received a response from the United States on Wednesday to its suggestions on the final European Union draft for the renewal of the 2015 nuclear deal. The declaration comes a day after Washington claimed that Iran had agreed to relax important conditions that had prevented the resumption of the 2015 agreement that former president Donald Trump had slammed. A day before, Tehran had blasted the US for being reluctant to respond to its offers. "Tehran received this evening via the (EU) coordinator, the response from the US government over the Islamic Republic of Iran's opinions on the outstanding issues in the negotiations to lift sanctions," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said, as reported by AFP. "The process of carefully reviewing the US opinions has begun, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will announce its opinion in this context to the coordinator after it completes its review," Kanani added, without providing further details. Iran provided its suggestions last week over the final text that the EU, which has coordinated discussions in Vienna on renewing the treaty, sent on August 8. Washington also acknowledged that it had responded to Iran's offers following Tehran's statement. In 2015, Iran and six major world powers—Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States—agreed to a deal that lifted sanctions in return for limits on the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the agreement is officially known, was created to stop Iran from creating a nuclear weapon, something it has always denied wanting to do. The news from Iran comes as Israel, Iran's arch-enemy, has urged Western nations to put an end to negotiations to revive the pact and warned against the repercussions of doing so. (with inputs from agencies)

Iran receives US response on final European Union draft for revival of 2015 nuclear deal

The United States does not have the will to reach an agreement to revive a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran at talks in Vienna where it is insisting on "unacceptable proposals", Iran's top security official, Ali Shamkhani, said on Thursday.

The 2015 deal that lifted sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear programme was on the verge of being restored after 11 months of negotiations until Russia presented a new obstacle by demanding written guarantees from the United States that Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine would not affect its trade with Iran.

Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme Security Council, said on Twitter that in the absence of a political decision by the United States the talks "become more complicated every hour".

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US approach to Iran's principled demands, coupled with its unreasonable offers and unjustified pressure to hastily reach an agreement, show that US isn't interested in a strong deal that would satisfy both parties. Absent US political decision, the talks get knottier by the hour.
— علی شمخانی (@alishamkhani_ir) <a href="https://twitter.com/alishamkhani_ir/status/1501802748760760320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/prisoners-who-could-be-freed-alongside-iran-nuclear-deal-458114">Prisoners who could be freed alongside Iran nuclear deal</a>

The United States “has no will to reach a strong agreement", he said adding that it was making “unacceptable proposals (and) insists on a quick agreement with false pretences”.

He did not elaborate on the US&nbsp;proposals.

US&nbsp;Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland on Tuesday accused Russia of seeking to reap extra benefits from its participation in the effort to restore the nuclear agreement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-remove-obstacle-for-reviving-nuke-deal-iran-iaea-agree-on-3-month-timeline-459480">To remove obstacle for reviving nuke deal, Iran, IAEA agree on 3-month timeline</a>

European negotiators from France, Britain, and Germany have temporarily left the talks as they believed they had gone as far as they could and it was now up to the United States and Iran to agree on outstanding issues.

Iran's chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, returned to Tehran unexpectedly after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov outlined Moscow's new demands.

Watch |&nbsp;West warns Russia over Iran Nuclear Deal

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Iran's foreign minister said at the time that Tehran would not let its interests be harmed by "foreign elements". 
Bagheri Kani flew back to Vienna on Wednesday.

The United States does not have the will to reach an agreement to revive a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran at talks in Vienna where it is insisting on "unacceptable proposals", Iran's top security official, Ali Shamkhani, said on Thursday.

The United States does not have the will to reach an agreement to revive a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran at talks in Vienna where it is insisting on "unacceptable proposals", Iran's top security official, Ali Shamkhani, said on Thursday. The 2015 deal that lifted sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear programme was on the verge of being restored after 11 months of negotiations until Russia presented a new obstacle by demanding written guarantees from the United States that Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine would not affect its trade with Iran. Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme Security Council, said on Twitter that in the absence of a political decision by the United States the talks "become more complicated every hour". US approach to Iran's principled demands, coupled with its unreasonable offers and unjustified pressure to hastily reach an agreement, show that US isn't interested in a strong deal that would satisfy both parties. Absent US political decision, the talks get knottier by the hour. — علی شمخانی (@alishamkhani_ir) March 10, 2022 × Also read | Prisoners who could be freed alongside Iran nuclear deal The United States “has no will to reach a strong agreement", he said adding that it was making “unacceptable proposals (and) insists on a quick agreement with false pretences”. He did not elaborate on the US proposals. US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland on Tuesday accused Russia of seeking to reap extra benefits from its participation in the effort to restore the nuclear agreement. Also read | To remove obstacle for reviving nuke deal, Iran, IAEA agree on 3-month timeline European negotiators from France, Britain, and Germany have temporarily left the talks as they believed they had gone as far as they could and it was now up to the United States and Iran to agree on outstanding issues. Iran's chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, returned to Tehran unexpectedly after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov outlined Moscow's new demands. Watch | West warns Russia over Iran Nuclear Deal Iran's foreign minister said at the time that Tehran would not let its interests be harmed by "foreign elements". Bagheri Kani flew back to Vienna on Wednesday.

Iran says lack of US decision on nuclear deal makes talks 'more complicated every hour'

Long-running differences over how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program have erupted into new tensions between the Biden administration and Israel, with two senior Israeli officials leaving Washington this week concerned that the Americans’ commitment to restoring the 2015 nuclear deal will lead to a flawed agreement allowing Tehran to speed ahead with its nuclear enrichment program.

The strains were evident all week, as the Biden administration sought to bring the alliance with Israel into a united front about how to deal with Iran over the next year.

In an effort to close the gap, American officials let out word this week that two months ago, President Joe Biden asked his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, to review the Pentagon’s revised plan to take military action if the diplomatic effort collapsed. Administration officials also outlined new efforts to tighten, rather than loosen, sanctions on Iran.

Biden’s focus on military options and sanctions was an effort to signal to Tehran that the United States was running out of patience with Iranian foot-dragging in the nuclear negotiations in Vienna, administration officials said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week that the new Iranian government “does not seem to be serious about doing what’s necessary to return to compliance” with the 2015 nuclear deal.

But the tougher line was also aimed at calming increasingly frustrated Israeli officials. Although they will not criticize the American president in public the way former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did during the Obama administration, Israeli officials in private argue that the Iranians are advancing their nuclear program while betting that the United States, eager to diminish American commitments in the Middle East, will not abandon the Vienna talks for more forceful action.

This article is based on discussions with more than a dozen American and Israeli officials who spoke on the condition they be granted anonymity to discuss both sensitive matters of diplomacy and classified intelligence assessments.

After a tense phone call with Blinken 10 days ago, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett dispatched his defense minister, Benny Gantz, and the new head of the Mossad, David Barnea, to Washington this week armed with new intelligence about Iranians’ uranium enrichment and the work of what Israel says is their weapons group. Despite the tougher American talk, Israeli officials left worried that the diplomatic outreach to Iran would continue.

The disagreement over Iran is just one of several issues troubling the Biden-Bennett relationship. The pair started off on a strong footing: Biden spoke with Bennett within hours after the Israeli leader took office in June — a signal of support given that Biden had taken weeks after his inauguration to speak directly with Bennett’s predecessor, Netanyahu.

But the two governments have since clashed on whether the U.S. should reopen the American consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem, which was closed by President Donald Trump. Bennett says such a move would undermine Israel’s sovereignty in its capital city.

There are also disagreements over Israeli plans to expand its settlements in the occupied West Bank, and over the Biden administration’s decision to blacklist two Israeli spyware firms, NSO Group and Candiru, whose products, the U.S. alleges, have been used by authoritarian governments to hack the phones of dissidents and rights activists.

But at the heart of the tensions between Israel and the United States is the fundamental disagreement over how to stop the Iranian program. It is not a new argument: The two allies fought bitterly over the 2015 agreement, which Israel opposed and President Barack Obama signed.

More recently, they have disagreed about the wisdom of Israeli sabotage of Iranian facilities, which Bennett’s government believes has set back the program and which some in the United States argue only encourages the Iranians to build back the nuclear enrichment facilities with more efficient, up-to-date equipment.

Israeli officials had been happy with the warm welcome the White House offered Bennett. The Biden administration had praised his government for being far more transparent with it than Netanyahu had been. Indeed, the Israelis consulted with the Americans before launching two covert strikes against Iran, one in September against a missile base and one in June against an Iranian factory building nuclear centrifuges, according to people briefed on the actions.

But the call between Bennett and Blinken last week was contentious, with the two sides embracing very different opinions about the value of a renewed agreement to check Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. The call left officials in both countries frustrated, according to officials from both countries.

(BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.)

During the phone call, Bennett said Iran was trying to blackmail the United States by increasing the enrichment percentage, according to an official familiar with details of the call. Bennett added that no official, American or Israeli, wants to be the one to report that Iran has reached bomb-grade enrichment, but fears of a nuclear-armed Iran should not lead to surrendering to Iranian demands or signing a reckless agreement.

Some American officials believe those concerns about concessions are misplaced. Israeli officials had complained that the United States was considering offering an interim deal with Tehran that would roll back some sanctions in return for a freeze on some of its nuclear activity. But American officials say such an offer is not actively being considered, at least for now, because of Iran’s unwillingness to engage.

Israeli officials have not been reassured. They are increasingly concerned that the United States will eventually reach a deal with Tehran and then seek to block Israeli intelligence services from carrying out covert sabotage attacks. Israeli leaders say they want a guarantee from the Biden administration that Washington will not seek to restrain their sabotage campaign, even if a renewed nuclear deal is reached.

Disagreements over intelligence assessments about the Iranian nuclear stockpile and bomb-making know-how remain relatively small, mostly focused on how long it would take Iranians to produce a weapon if they get enough bomb-grade nuclear fuel.

But the gulf about the meaning of those assessments is wide. American officials believe that so long as Iran has not moved to develop a bomb it does not have a nuclear military program, since it suspended the existing one after 2003. Israeli officials, on the other hand, believe that Iran has continued a clandestine effort to build a bomb since 2003.

Some Israeli officials believe that their sabotage campaign is having strategic effects and could be one of the reasons Iranians, however tentatively, have returned to Vienna. A senior Israeli intelligence official said the sabotage operations had created crippling paranoia at the top of the Iranian government. The operations, the official said, have caused Tehran to rethink whether it should accelerate the nuclear project.

But even American supporters of the Israeli approach say it is akin to “mowing the grass,” a necessary step to keep Iran in check but not one that will ever fully halt Tehran’s nuclear research. These American officials believe that the only durable way to prevent Iran from developing a weapon is to reach an agreement, like the one in 2015, that requires Iran to ship its nuclear fuel out of the country. And that would require significant sanctions relief in return.

In the meetings this week, Israelis officials tried to persuade Washington not to work toward a diplomatic agreement and to instead tighten sanctions. But Israeli officials say they fear that the US&nbsp;is conducting secret back-channel communication with Iran and that a new round of talks in Vienna will eventually lead to the signing of a deal.

This week's meetings came against the backdrop of a recent Iranian attack on American forces in Syria, a senior American official said. The Israelis, the official said, had an aggressive attitude on the Iranian threat, related to both the nuclear program and the risk of missile and other weapon proliferation.

But there is a growing American concern that it is just a matter of time before an American service member is killed or wounded by an Iranian proxy drone strike on Biden’s watch. With Iran making clear it will retaliate against American personnel in Syria or Iraq if Israel strikes Iran or its proxies, it complicates strike planning.

In an appearance at The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council on Monday, CIA Director William Burns raised concerns about the Iranian nuclear work. He said the Iranians were “dragging their feet” on negotiations as they were “making steady advances in their nuclear program, particularly enrichment to 60% now as well.” That is the closest the Iranians have ever come to bomb-grade fuel, which is usually defined as 90% purity.

But, Burns added, the United States continues to believe that Iran has not made a decision to weaponize its nuclear program.

Long-running differences over how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program have erupted into new tensions between the Biden administration and Israel, with two senior Israeli officials leaving Washington this week concerned that the Americans’ commitment to restoring the 2015 nuclear deal will lead to a flawed agreement allowing Tehran to speed ahead with its nuclear enrichment program.

Long-running differences over how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program have erupted into new tensions between the Biden administration and Israel, with two senior Israeli officials leaving Washington this week concerned that the Americans’ commitment to restoring the 2015 nuclear deal will lead to a flawed agreement allowing Tehran to speed ahead with its nuclear enrichment program. The strains were evident all week, as the Biden administration sought to bring the alliance with Israel into a united front about how to deal with Iran over the next year. In an effort to close the gap, American officials let out word this week that two months ago, President Joe Biden asked his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, to review the Pentagon’s revised plan to take military action if the diplomatic effort collapsed. Administration officials also outlined new efforts to tighten, rather than loosen, sanctions on Iran. Biden’s focus on military options and sanctions was an effort to signal to Tehran that the United States was running out of patience with Iranian foot-dragging in the nuclear negotiations in Vienna, administration officials said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week that the new Iranian government “does not seem to be serious about doing what’s necessary to return to compliance” with the 2015 nuclear deal. But the tougher line was also aimed at calming increasingly frustrated Israeli officials. Although they will not criticize the American president in public the way former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did during the Obama administration, Israeli officials in private argue that the Iranians are advancing their nuclear program while betting that the United States, eager to diminish American commitments in the Middle East, will not abandon the Vienna talks for more forceful action. This article is based on discussions with more than a dozen American and Israeli officials who spoke on the condition they be granted anonymity to discuss both sensitive matters of diplomacy and classified intelligence assessments. After a tense phone call with Blinken 10 days ago, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett dispatched his defense minister, Benny Gantz, and the new head of the Mossad, David Barnea, to Washington this week armed with new intelligence about Iranians’ uranium enrichment and the work of what Israel says is their weapons group. Despite the tougher American talk, Israeli officials left worried that the diplomatic outreach to Iran would continue. The disagreement over Iran is just one of several issues troubling the Biden-Bennett relationship. The pair started off on a strong footing: Biden spoke with Bennett within hours after the Israeli leader took office in June — a signal of support given that Biden had taken weeks after his inauguration to speak directly with Bennett’s predecessor, Netanyahu. But the two governments have since clashed on whether the U.S. should reopen the American consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem, which was closed by President Donald Trump. Bennett says such a move would undermine Israel’s sovereignty in its capital city. There are also disagreements over Israeli plans to expand its settlements in the occupied West Bank, and over the Biden administration’s decision to blacklist two Israeli spyware firms, NSO Group and Candiru, whose products, the U.S. alleges, have been used by authoritarian governments to hack the phones of dissidents and rights activists. But at the heart of the tensions between Israel and the United States is the fundamental disagreement over how to stop the Iranian program. It is not a new argument: The two allies fought bitterly over the 2015 agreement, which Israel opposed and President Barack Obama signed. More recently, they have disagreed about the wisdom of Israeli sabotage of Iranian facilities, which Bennett’s government believes has set back the program and which some in the United States argue only encourages the Iranians to build back the nuclear enrichment facilities with more efficient, up-to-date equipment. Israeli officials had been happy with the warm welcome the White House offered Bennett. The Biden administration had praised his government for being far more transparent with it than Netanyahu had been. Indeed, the Israelis consulted with the Americans before launching two covert strikes against Iran, one in September against a missile base and one in June against an Iranian factory building nuclear centrifuges, according to people briefed on the actions. But the call between Bennett and Blinken last week was contentious, with the two sides embracing very different opinions about the value of a renewed agreement to check Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. The call left officials in both countries frustrated, according to officials from both countries. (BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.) During the phone call, Bennett said Iran was trying to blackmail the United States by increasing the enrichment percentage, according to an official familiar with details of the call. Bennett added that no official, American or Israeli, wants to be the one to report that Iran has reached bomb-grade enrichment, but fears of a nuclear-armed Iran should not lead to surrendering to Iranian demands or signing a reckless agreement. Some American officials believe those concerns about concessions are misplaced. Israeli officials had complained that the United States was considering offering an interim deal with Tehran that would roll back some sanctions in return for a freeze on some of its nuclear activity. But American officials say such an offer is not actively being considered, at least for now, because of Iran’s unwillingness to engage. Israeli officials have not been reassured. They are increasingly concerned that the United States will eventually reach a deal with Tehran and then seek to block Israeli intelligence services from carrying out covert sabotage attacks. Israeli leaders say they want a guarantee from the Biden administration that Washington will not seek to restrain their sabotage campaign, even if a renewed nuclear deal is reached. Disagreements over intelligence assessments about the Iranian nuclear stockpile and bomb-making know-how remain relatively small, mostly focused on how long it would take Iranians to produce a weapon if they get enough bomb-grade nuclear fuel. But the gulf about the meaning of those assessments is wide. American officials believe that so long as Iran has not moved to develop a bomb it does not have a nuclear military program, since it suspended the existing one after 2003. Israeli officials, on the other hand, believe that Iran has continued a clandestine effort to build a bomb since 2003. Some Israeli officials believe that their sabotage campaign is having strategic effects and could be one of the reasons Iranians, however tentatively, have returned to Vienna. A senior Israeli intelligence official said the sabotage operations had created crippling paranoia at the top of the Iranian government. The operations, the official said, have caused Tehran to rethink whether it should accelerate the nuclear project. But even American supporters of the Israeli approach say it is akin to “mowing the grass,” a necessary step to keep Iran in check but not one that will ever fully halt Tehran’s nuclear research. These American officials believe that the only durable way to prevent Iran from developing a weapon is to reach an agreement, like the one in 2015, that requires Iran to ship its nuclear fuel out of the country. And that would require significant sanctions relief in return. In the meetings this week, Israelis officials tried to persuade Washington not to work toward a diplomatic agreement and to instead tighten sanctions. But Israeli officials say they fear that the US is conducting secret back-channel communication with Iran and that a new round of talks in Vienna will eventually lead to the signing of a deal. This week's meetings came against the backdrop of a recent Iranian attack on American forces in Syria, a senior American official said. The Israelis, the official said, had an aggressive attitude on the Iranian threat, related to both the nuclear program and the risk of missile and other weapon proliferation. But there is a growing American concern that it is just a matter of time before an American service member is killed or wounded by an Iranian proxy drone strike on Biden’s watch. With Iran making clear it will retaliate against American personnel in Syria or Iraq if Israel strikes Iran or its proxies, it complicates strike planning. In an appearance at The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council on Monday, CIA Director William Burns raised concerns about the Iranian nuclear work. He said the Iranians were “dragging their feet” on negotiations as they were “making steady advances in their nuclear program, particularly enrichment to 60% now as well.” That is the closest the Iranians have ever come to bomb-grade fuel, which is usually defined as 90% purity. But, Burns added, the United States continues to believe that Iran has not made a decision to weaponize its nuclear program.

Iran’s nuclear programme ignites new tension between US and Israel

As Iran began talks with Western nations on&nbsp;reviving the 2015 nuclear deal in Vienna, Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned countries over "Iran's nuclear blackmail".

"Such a murderous regime should not be rewarded," Naftali Bennett said as an EU delegation began talks with Iranian officials in Vienna after a five-month break.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-and-iran-broaden-cyberwar-to-attack-civilian-targets-432628">Also Read:&nbsp;Israel and Iran broaden cyberwar to attack civilian targets</a>

"Iran deserves no rewards, no bargain deals and no sanctions relief in return for their brutality," the Israeli PM&nbsp;Bennett said in a blunt attack on the Iranian leadership.

The Trump administration had pulled out of the nuclear deal with Iran three years ago and imposed harsh sanctions against the country as Iran&nbsp;began to restart its nuclear programme.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/either-we-agree-on-everything-or-agree-on-nothing-iran-warns-us-over-nuclear-deal-427765">Also Read |&nbsp;Either we agree on everything or agree on nothing: Iran</a>

"Do not give in to Iran's nuclear blackmail," Bennett warned as&nbsp;negotiators met in Vienna.

However, the Biden administration expressed interest to revive the deal, however, Iran has insisted all sanctions imposed by former President Trump should be dropped.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-nuclear-talks-iran-conducts-military-exercise-427418">Also Read:&nbsp;Ahead of nuclear talks, Iran conducts military exercise</a>

UK foreign minister Liz Truss had earlier assured Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid that Britain will ensure Iran does not secure a nuclear weapon while stating that "all options are on the table" if the talks don't work.

However, Iran said it was determined to salvage the deal and there was "willingness" and "seriousness" to get back.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As Iran began talks with Western nations on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal in Vienna, Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned countries over "Iran's nuclear blackmail".

As Iran began talks with Western nations on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal in Vienna, Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned countries over "Iran's nuclear blackmail". "Such a murderous regime should not be rewarded," Naftali Bennett said as an EU delegation began talks with Iranian officials in Vienna after a five-month break. Also Read: Israel and Iran broaden cyberwar to attack civilian targets "Iran deserves no rewards, no bargain deals and no sanctions relief in return for their brutality," the Israeli PM Bennett said in a blunt attack on the Iranian leadership. The Trump administration had pulled out of the nuclear deal with Iran three years ago and imposed harsh sanctions against the country as Iran began to restart its nuclear programme. Also Read | Either we agree on everything or agree on nothing: Iran "Do not give in to Iran's nuclear blackmail," Bennett warned as negotiators met in Vienna. However, the Biden administration expressed interest to revive the deal, however, Iran has insisted all sanctions imposed by former President Trump should be dropped. Also Read: Ahead of nuclear talks, Iran conducts military exercise UK foreign minister Liz Truss had earlier assured Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid that Britain will ensure Iran does not secure a nuclear weapon while stating that "all options are on the table" if the talks don't work. However, Iran said it was determined to salvage the deal and there was "willingness" and "seriousness" to get back. (With inputs from Agencies)

Don't give in to Iran's blackmail, says Israeli PM Naftali Bennett as nuclear talks resume

The US envoy for Iran warned Friday that Tehran was approaching the point of no return for reviving the 2015 nuclear deal after it boosted its stocks of enriched uranium before talks resume this month.

US envoy to Iran says time shrinking for nuclear deal