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US, Israel Reach Anti-Iran Cooperation Agreement

US, Israel Reach  Anti-Iran Cooperation Agreement
US, Israel Reach  Anti-Iran Cooperation Agreement

US and Israeli officials reached a closed-door cooperation agreement on how to deal with Iran, according to Israel's Channel 10 News.

The agreement, which was reportedly signed on Dec. 12 at the White House, aims to counter Iran's missile and nuclear programs.

According to Channel 10 as cited by the Hill, the agreement would translate US President Donald Trump's Oct. 13 speech decertifying the Iran deal into steps on the ground.

The two countries have reportedly decided to set up joint teams to combat Iran in the region.

One joint team would grapple with Iran's ties to the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah, as well as Iranian activity in Syria.

The second team would aim to deal with Iran's nuclear goals, while another team would specialize in dealing with the country's missile program. The fourth team is designed to control preparations for any escalation from Hezbollah or Tehran.

The news organization reported a senior Israeli official as saying the two sides "see eye to eye on the trends and processes in the region".

US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster and his Israeli counterpart, Meir Ben-Shabbat, led the negotiations, according to Channel 10. The report comes as US-Iranian relations have declined in recent months.

Trump announced in October that he would decertify the Iranian nuclear deal, which was reached during the Obama administration.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley ripped into Tehran earlier this month when she presented what she claimed was "undeniable" evidence that Iran was supplying weapons to Yemeni rebels in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.

US-Israeli relations have been on the uptick since Trump announced earlier this month the US would recognize Beit-ul-Moqaddas as the capital of Israel, a move which drew strong criticism from the international community. Iran's legislative body voted on Wednesday to declare the holy city as the permamant capital of Palestine.

 

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