US won't allow Iran get nuclear weapons, says Secretary of State Antony Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday (June 5) that America won't let Iran get nuclear weapons, reiterating the Biden administration's firm stance against Tehran.

Blinken showed commitment to Israel's security in a speech to the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC, where he said that there was no danger that Israel faces "that is graver than the one posed by the Iranian regime".

In a speech to the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, Blinken said that the US continues to believe that diplomacy is the best way to "verifiably, effectively and sustainably" prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. But he added that economic pressure and deterrence reinforce the diplomacy in parallel.

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He added, "If Iran rejects the path of diplomacy, then, as President Biden has repeatedly made clear, all options are on the table to ensure that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons."

Blinken also pledged continued US commitment to both Israel's security and a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. He, however, warned the expansion of Jewish settlements would be an obstacle to peace.

He said that the administration of President Joe Biden was committed to the Abraham Accords, which is an initiative launched under former president Donald Trump to persuade Arab countries to establish formal relations with the Jewish state.

Without specifying the holy sites in his reference, he said in his speech that moves toward annexation of the Israeli-occupied West Bank or that disrupting the status quo at holy sites would hurt the prospects for a two-state solution.

Blinken said, "Settlement expansion clearly presents an obstacle to the horizon of hope that we seek. Likewise, any move toward annexation of the West Bank, de facto or de jure, disruption of the historic status quo at holy sites, the continuing demolitions of homes and the evictions of families that have lived in those homes for generations damage prospects for two states. They also undermine the basic daily dignity to which all people are entitled."

Blinken urges for normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia

News agency Reuters reported that there was a muted response from the audience when he spoke about the settlement expansion, but he received widespread applause when he outlined the longstanding American commitment to Israel and said all options were on the table when it came to preventing Israel's No. 1 enemy, Iran, from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Blinken said that Washington would continue to work toward helping Israel integrate into the region as a means of enhancing security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East. He also stressed the importance of normalisation of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

He said, "The United States has a real national security interest in promoting normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia."

(With inputs from agencies)

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