Former defense officials back US return to Iran deal, urge new long-term pact

Over 20 former senior military and intelligence officials in Israel send a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz backing the US return to the Iran nuclear deal, while calling for a new international agreement that will curtail Tehran’s other military activities in the region.

The letter, dispatched by former IDF deputy chief of staff Matan Vilnai — also a former Labor minister — welcomes the Biden administration’s efforts to reengage with Iran.

“We welcome the American initiative to bring Iran into compliance… with the nuclear deal, provided that it also requires Iran to fully comply with its obligations under UN Security Council resolution 2231 on the development of missiles and the IAEA inspections agreements,” the letter says.

US President Joe Biden (left) and Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. (Collage, AP)

The former security officials also call for a “new, long-term agreement that will address the loopholes and weaknesses discovered in the previous deal.”

They also say the Biden administration must lay out for Iran which violations will not be tolerated, and emphasize that the United States will not allow the Islamic Republic to obtain nuclear weapons — even if diplomacy fails.

The signatories include former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, former IDF general Nitzan Alon, former National Security Adviser Uzi Arad, and over a dozen others.