Israel used the recent visit of General Mark Milley, chairman of the joint chief of staff, to convey various messages to the incoming Biden administration about Iran and other regional developments, senior Israeli officials tell me.
Why it’s important: Israel is very concerned about President-elect Biden’s plans on Iran and the 2015 nuclear deal, but has not yet opened direct contacts with the incoming administration. Milley is a potential bridge to Biden’s White House because it is expected to continue beyond the transition.
What they say: “We wanted to present our case to the new administration of Iran through someone who will still be in the room when Biden takes office and will play a substantial role in any policy review that is done,” an Israeli official said. .
Driving the news: Milley arrived in Israel last Thursday after visiting several Arab capitals. It was his third visit to the region this year and came amid fears of Iranian retaliation over the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
- Milley met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and the head of the Israeli Defense Forces Cabinet, General Aviv Kochavi.
Behind the scenes: The main message from the Israelis to Milley was that Biden should not rush back to the 2015 agreement, but should take advantage of the fact that Iran is in a weak position, according to Israeli officials who went attend conversations.
- If Biden does not use the leverage that the United States has accumulated through its “maximum pressure” sanctions regime, the Israelis argued, it will be impossible to make a better deal later.
- “We stressed that the starting point of any talks with Iran is much better for the US today than in 2013. What is needed now is to be tough to get a better deal,” an Israeli official said.
Game status: Biden says he will return to the 2015 agreement if Iran fulfills it again and tries to use it as a platform to negotiate a broader and lasting agreement. This would require the US to lift sanctions and Iran to undo its recent nuclear activities.
Milley made it clear he has not yet had a chance to speak with incoming administration members, but said Biden’s national security team has a pro-commitment approach to Iran, according to an Israeli official.
- Milley even referred to John Kerry and Susan Rice among those who could influence the administration’s thinking about Iran, an Israeli official said, despite his roles (Kerry as climate tsar, Rice leading the Home Affairs Council) have nothing to do with Iran.
The Israelis also told Milley that the incoming administration should be more flexible when it comes to relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, despite concerns about its human rights records, officials said.
- “We believe it is important for the next administration to maintain momentum in the normalization process and we believe that right now what US policy should lead is this historic regional opportunity. So we hope the new administration will look into the complexities. and don’t burn bridges with those countries, ”an Israeli official told me.
What follows: The main political gaps between the Israeli government and the incoming US administration are likely to provoke tensions. These tensions could escalate ahead of Israel’s elections, expected in March, if Netanyahu makes his objections to Biden’s policies part of his campaign.