US, Israel ‘should probably’ join up to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, hostage envoy says

The White House’s top official on hostage negotiations says Israel and the US would not have trouble joining up to destroy Iran’s nuclear program.

“It’s not so hard for us to partner with Israel and take out (Iran’s) nuclear capability,” Adam Boehler tells FOX News Sunday. “We probably should do it.”

He makes the comments in response to a question on the seriousness of US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Hamas last week for it to immediately release all hostages or face destruction. Boehler recalls the Trump-ordered assassination of Iran Quds Force chief Qassem Soleimani.

Trump might “make it seem like an empty threat until he carries it,” Boehler says.

Boehler denies reporting that his talks with Hamas have fallen apart, calling them “very productive.” The Trump envoy says he “identified some opportunities to come together.”

“We also discussed what an end might look like,” he continues, adding that the talks “did orient toward a long-term truce” in which Hamas would agree to disarm, not be part of the governance of Gaza and no longer threaten Israel. Hamas to date has pledged to do none of those things publicly.

Defending the talks amid Israeli criticism, Boehler says, “dialogue doesn’t mean giving things,” insisting that Jerusalem “was kept informed.”

While a Western official told The Times of Israel that Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer “lashed out” at Boehler after learning of the talks after-the-fact, Boehler says he was able to put the Netanyahu confidant “at ease” and convince him “that I wouldn’t go off the rails,” adding that “Israel is our best ally.”

Addressing Israeli concerns that the US will pivot elsewhere after securing the release of American hostages, Boehler insists Trump wants to “bring everybody home.”