Speaking alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed “hope that the U.S. will not go back to the old JCPOA because we believe that that deal paves the way for Iran to have an arsenal of nuclear weapons with international legitimacy… Whatever happens, Israel will always reserve the right to defend itself against a regime committed to our destruction, committed to getting the weapons of mass destruction for that end”. Blinken remarked that “we’ll continue to strengthen all aspects of our longstanding partnership. And that includes consulting closely with Israel… on the ongoing negotiations in Vienna around a potential return to the Iran nuclear agreement, at the same time as we continue to work together to counter Iran’s destabilising actions in the region”. Blinken also discussed Iran in conversations with Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Minister of Defence Benny Gantz. Relatedly, a Pentagon spokesperson indicated that “Iran’s support of Hamas and other terrorist organisations in the region… is certainly a long-standing concern and we continue to work with our allies and partners in the region to try to limit the effects of that support”.