Eurasia Press & News
President Joe Biden said in an interview with an Israeli TV station that an elite Iranian military unit would remain designated a terrorist group by the US, even if that means he can’t secure a return to the multinational deal intended to restrain Iran’s nuclear program.
He also said he wouldn’t rule out US military action to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon “if that was the last resort.”
Biden answered “yes” after he was asked in the interview with Channel 12 news whether he was committed to keeping the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps on the US list of foreign terrorist organizations. Iran has demanded that the designation be lifted, as talks on the nuclear agreement remain stalled.
But Biden said he would also continue to pursue a return to the nuclear accord with Iran, despite opposition by Israel’s government.
“The only thing worse than the Iran that exists now is an Iran with nuclear weapons,” Biden said. “And if we can return to a deal and hold them tight — I think it was a gigantic mistake for the last president to get out of the deal. They’re closer to a nuclear weapon now than they were before.”
Former President Donald Trump scrapped the nuclear agreement with Iran that was reached by President Barack Obama and other world leaders. Trump said it didn’t sufficiently curb the Islamic Republic’s military activities. Tehran backs a number of governments and militant groups in the region hostile to Israel, including Hezbollah and Syria’s government.
Biden also said in the interview that Democrats in the US who regard Israel as an apartheid state because of its treatment of the Palestinian territories are a minority in his party. Some progressives in the House have openly backed the so-called boycott, divestment, sanctions movement that aims at punishing the Israeli government for what advocates regard as Palestinian oppression.
“There are a few of them. I think they’re wrong. I think they’re making a mistake,” Biden said. “Israel is a democracy. Israel is our ally.”
“There’s no possibility,” he said, that the Democratic Party would turn against Israel.
He added that he’s unconcerned about the possibility Benjamin Netanyahu will once again become Israeli prime minister, despite Netanyahu’s close relationship with Trump. Biden said he and Netanyahu have known each other for 40 years, know where they agree and disagree and “we make no bones about it.”
Biden will meet with Netanyahu on Thursday, in addition to Israel’s current prime minister, Yair Lapid.
