PM: Israel, US unite on Iran’s nuclear threat

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that both Israel and the US are committed to preventing Iran's nuclear ambitions and its "aggression" in the Middle East.

Netanyahu made these remarks following a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on February 16, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Israel has received a delivery of heavy MK-84 bombs from the United States, following the removal of an export ban imposed by the previous administration of President Joe Biden. 

The MK-84 is a 2,000-pound unguided bomb capable of penetrating thick concrete and metal, generating a large blast radius. The Biden administration had previously withheld approval for their export to Israel due to concerns over the potential impact on densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip.

The shipment arrived amid growing concerns over the stability of a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, agreed upon last month, as both sides accused each other of breaching the terms of the deal that was meant to halt the fighting and facilitate the exchange of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli jails.

Since the onset of the war, Washington has pledged billions of dollars in assistance to Israel.   

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about plans with the US to shape a new Middle East, emphasizing a vision of a nuclear-free Iran, while Israeli forces continued targeting suspected Iran-linked groups in the West Bank.

In a conversation, Netanyahu discussed how the region was evolving under President Donald Trump’s leadership, mentioning a potential peace agreement with Saudi Arabia. 

Netanyahu noted that Israel had already made progress by normalizing relations with several Arab nations, like the UAE, through the 2020 US-brokered Abraham Accords, and expressed hopes of achieving a similar breakthrough with Saudi Arabia.

By Naila Huseynova