In a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid after one-on-one talks on Iran’s fast-moving nuclear program, Biden said the US had given the Iranian leadership a path back to the nuclear deal and was still waiting for a response. “When that will come, I’m not sure,” Biden said. “But we won’t wait forever.” Although he argued that his patience with Iran had run out, Biden expressed hope that Iran could be persuaded to rejoin the deal. “I continue to believe that diplomacy is the best way to achieve this outcome,” he said. Biden’s desire for a diplomatic solution contrasted with Lapid, who said Iran must face a real threat of violence in order to abandon its nuclear ambitions. “The Iranian regime must know that if it continues to deceive the world it will pay a heavy price,” Lapid said at the press conference. “The only way to stop them is to put a credible military threat on the table.” Lapid indicated that he and Biden were in agreement, despite his tougher rhetoric toward Iran. “I don’t think there’s any light between us,” he said. “We cannot allow Iran to go nuclear.” Reviving the Iran nuclear deal brokered by the Obama administration and abandoned by Donald Trump in 2018 was a key priority for Biden as he took office. But administration officials have grown increasingly pessimistic about the chances of Tehran returning to compliance. Israeli officials sought to use Biden’s first visit to the Middle East as president to highlight that Iran’s nuclear program has gone too far and to encourage the Biden administration to halt efforts to revive the 2015 Iran deal to curb its development. Israel opposed the original nuclear deal, reached under Obama in 2015, because its restrictions on Iran’s nuclear enrichment would expire and the deal did not address Iran’s ballistic missile program or military activities in the region. Instead of the US rejoining the accord, which Trump pulled out of in 2018, Israel would prefer tough sanctions in the hope of leading to a more sweeping deal. The US president, who is due to travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday, said he also stressed to Lapid the importance of Israel being fully integrated into the region. Their one-on-one talks were the focus of Biden’s 48-hour visit aimed at strengthening the already close ties between the US and Israel. The leaders issued a joint statement emphasizing military cooperation and a commitment to prevent Iran, which Israel considers an enemy, from acquiring a nuclear weapon. In their joint statement, the United States said it was ready to use “all elements of its national power” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb. Biden, in an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 that aired Wednesday, offered strong assurances of his determination to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, saying he would be willing to use force as a “last resort” if necessary. Iran announced last week that it has enriched uranium to 60 percent purity, a technical step away from weapons grade. The joint statement could have significant symbolic significance for Biden’s upcoming meeting with Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia as he seeks to strengthen a regional alliance against Iran. “I talked about how important it was … for Israel to be fully integrated into the region,” Biden said after meeting one-on-one with Lapid on Thursday. The president is heading to Saudi Arabia after calling the kingdom a “pariah” nation as a candidate and releasing a US intelligence report last year showing the kingdom’s defacto leader, Mohammed bin Salman, authorized the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based . author. Biden refused to commit to reporting Khashoggi’s killing when he meets with the crown prince. “I always bring up human rights,” Biden said at the news conference. “But my position on Khashoggi was so clear. If someone doesn’t get it, in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else, then they haven’t for a while.” He did not repeat his position. Thursday’s appearances with the Israeli prime minister could also give a boost to Lapid, who is serving in an interim capacity until elections in November, Israel’s fifth in less than four years. Lapid’s main rival is former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and a joint appearance with Biden could help boost his credentials as a politician and leader. Biden and Lapid also participated in a virtual summit with India and the United Arab Emirates, a collection of countries called the I2U2. The United Arab Emirates has announced that it will help finance a $2 billion project to support agriculture in India. Biden did not mention the upcoming Israeli election during the public portion of Thursday’s meeting with Lapid, but told reporters “we had a good start to a long relationship, God willing.” Biden is expected to meet only briefly with former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he had a rocky relationship. Like Lapid, Biden also faces a political threat from his predecessor. Trump, a Netanyahu ally who still enjoys strong support among Republican voters despite his attempt to overturn the last election, may seek another term. Asked in the Channel 12 interview if he expected a rematch, Biden replied: “I don’t predict, but I wouldn’t be disappointed.” Given the US’s position as Israel’s closest and most important ally, Biden is at the center of the country’s attention during his visit. He is to receive Israel’s highest political award, the Presidential Medal of Honor, from President Isaac Herzog on Thursday. Biden also planned to meet with US athletes participating in the Maccabiah Games. Also known as the “Jewish Olympics”, it is the country’s largest sporting event and is held every four years for Israeli and Jewish athletes from around the world.
Megerian reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.
