US official: We will defend Israel from any Iran attack

The United States will defend Israel in the case of an Iranian attack against it, says a senior American defense official, asserting Israel’s right to self-defense and the administration’s commitment to Israel’s military superiority in the Middle East.

“We have an ally relationship. The word ‘ally’ means something to us. It means that if you are attacked, we will defend you. That is what an ally relationship means… We use that term sparingly,” the official explains.

“We think that this deal decreases the need and likelihood of an attack, that is why we signed it. We understand that military action is always an option. It’s an option for the United States. It’s an option for Israel. But the goal is to have an agreement that makes a military attack less needed. But Israeli has the right to self-defense. We understand that.”

— Raphael Ahren