Galant: Seized nuclear archive could deter Iran

Housing Minister Yoav Galant, a retired IDF major general, says Israel’s dramatic seizure of what it purports to be Iran’s nuclear program archive could help deter the Islamic Republic from trying to strike Israel.

Galant tells Army Radio he suspects Trump was leaning toward nixing the deal, which could lead to growing confrontation between Israel and Iran. But he says Israel is prepared and doubts Iran would challenge Israel, given the humbling blow of the archive’s exposure.

“Anyone who saw the intelligence achievement can also understand what our military capabilities are,” he says. “I assume that everyone around us will think long and hard before they try to harm Israel.”

Trump has signaled he will pull out of the agreement by May 12 unless it is revised, but he faces intense pressure from European allies not to do so. Israeli officials said the information it gathered had been shared in advance with the Americans, in an apparent hope of influencing Trump’s decision.

— AP