U.S Secretary of Defense says Iran Liable for Regional Destabilization

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin says Iran is liable for the regional destabilization; adding that U.S is committed to replenishing Israel’s Iron Dome stock and is in talks with Congress to authorize $1 billion in emergency funding.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Wednesday, 25 August 2021, at the Pentagon, met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin; this was their first meeting.

Prime Minister Bennett and Secretary of Defense Austin discussed a series of regional, diplomatic and security issues, especially the ways to block Iran’s regional aggression and the progress of its nuclear program.

The Prime Minister thanked the Secretary of Defense for the close cooperation between Israel and the US in the security sphere and emphasized that he views the continued strengthening of the ties as a matter of utmost importance.

Prime Minister Bennett stressed that alongside the strategic alliance between the US and Israel, Israel will continue to insist on its right to maintain security supremacy in the Middle East and would continue to do everything necessary in this regard.

National Security Council head Dr. Eyal Hulata, the Prime Minister’s Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Avi Gil, Israeli Ambassador to the US and the UN Gilad Erdan, Cabinet Secretary Shalom Shlomo, the head of the Prime Minister’s staff, Tal Gan-Tzvi, and diplomatic adviser Shimrit Meir also participated in the meeting.