FM Cohen calls on US to present a ‘credible military threat’ to Iran

[Boats]

FM Cohen calls on US to present a ‘credible military threat’ to Iran
By: Shimon Sherman JNS News 02-21-23 / JNS News
Re: https://www.jns.org/fm-cohen-calls-o...hreat-to-iran/

Let's call in the Middle East is once again heating up!

(February 21, 2023 / JNS) Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on Tuesday called on Washington to take steps to convince Tehran that the United States is not bluffing when it comes to the possibility of the use of force.

“If the United States does not establish a credible military threat immediately, either Israel will attack, or Iran will have a nuclear weapon, which we will not allow under any circumstance,” the foreign minister said

Cohen delivered his remarks at an event in Jerusalem hosted by the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations.

The Iranian threat is two-fold, both as an aspiring nuclear power and as “the largest funder of global terrorism,” he said.

“Iran is Israel’s biggest challenge. They are constantly striving for a nuclear weapon…and they continuously endeavor to establish military threats against Israel, especially on our northern border, in the form of terror groups such as Hezbollah,” said Cohen.

The Iranian nuclear threat is a very time-sensitive issue, he continued. “Iran is close to 90% enrichment [of uranium]; therefore steps must be taken immediately,” he said.

The minister explained that the current government in Israel is willing to “use any means at its disposal to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons.”

He added, however, that a hard-line anti-Iranian policy from the United States might prevent the need for military escalation.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides, speaking to the Conference of Presidents on Monday, said that “Israel can and should do whatever they need to deal with Iran.

“As President [Joe] Biden has said, we will not stand by and watch Iran get a nuclear weapon,” Nides added.

The Abraham Accords

Cohen continued his remarks by explaining the importance of the Abraham Accords in Israel’s strategy.

“These agreements increased stability in our region, they brought prosperity to our people, and most importantly they helped us to build a coalition against Iran,” he said. The minister said that he viewed a peace deal with Sudan as the next crucial step in developing the anti-Iranian alliance. Iran’s use of Sudan as a staging ground for shipments of weapons to terrorist groups in Judea and Samaria makes normalization with Khartoum a vital diplomatic goal, he explained.

The minister said the Foreign Ministry is fully dedicated to this task. “I believe we can have peace with Sudan in the near future. We are working very closely with our American friends to sign an agreement this year,” he added.

The global threat of Iran

Iran presents a universal rather than a regional threat, Cohen said. “If Iran will have nuclear weapons it’s not just a threat to Israel, it’s a threat to the entire world.”

Tehran’s growing relationship with Moscow has forced Israel’s European and U.S. allies to recognize the global nature of the Iranian threat, he said. “Iranian weapons are killing free citizens of Europe in Ukraine,” Cohen continued. “Now the Europeans see that the Iranian threat is coming closer to them.”

The minister explained that in his view, this new reality will force Israel’s European and American partners to adopt a more hostile approach to the Iranian regime.

Indeed, Nides, in his remarks on Monday said that while “the Iranians are providing drones to Russia…there is no chance of us going back to the negotiating table.”

Cohen further said that Iran’s new close ties with Russia have impeded Israel’s ability to effectively check the Islamic Republic’s aggression.

“Israel has been forced to face the partnership between Iran and Russia, which brings a lot of concern from our point of view,” the minister said, noting that Moscow is “a big player in our neighborhood” and that this reality restricts Israel’s ability to adequately check the growing Russo-Iranian axis.

This limitation underlines the importance of “the U.S. and Europe waking up to the Iranian threat,” Cohen said.
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Personal note: The USA can only be spread only so far to be able to sustain more than one front at a time. Its bad enough we have the Ukraine issues but to once again jump back into the Middle East at this time - wouldn't sit well right now - and going back to those sand piles just doesn't sound that great - but that's just me. These countries have got to get their shit together. Being a world's cop for all upheavals is not what we expected in the long term. Any suggestions?
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Here's another story on the Middle East:

U.S. Navy Middle East chief says Iran has 'attention of everyone'
By: JON GAMBRELL - ASSOCIATED PRESS & Stars & Stripes: 02-21-23
Re: https://www.stripes.com/branches/nav...n-9204572.html

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Iranian attacks in the waterways of the Middle East and elsewhere in the region "have the attention of everyone" as tensions rise over Tehran's advancing nuclear program, the head of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet said Tuesday.

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper also told The Associated Press that he's seen a rise in what he described as Iran's "malign activities" in the region over his two years leading the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet.

While Cooper pointed to recent seizures of weapons by American and allied forces in the region as a success, he acknowledged that Iran has been able to carry out drone attacks targeting shipping in the Mideast and other assaults in the region.

"We're focused on expanding our partnerships," Cooper said on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi's International Defense Exhibition and Conference. "The short answer is the Iranian actions have the attention of everyone."

Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment over Cooper's remarks.

The 5th Fleet patrols the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil transits. Its region also stretches as far as the Red Sea up to the Suez Canal, the waterway in Egypt linking the Mideast to the Mediterranean Sea, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off Yemen.

Under Cooper's command, which will end with the upcoming arrival of Rear Adm. George Wikoff in Bahrain, likely later this year, the 5th Fleet vastly expanded its use of drones and artificial intelligence to patrol those waterways.

Cooper said the Navy has reached the halfway mark of his goal to have 100 unmanned drones, both sailing and submersible, operating in the region with America's allies. The Navy also conducted a drill Monday with the United Arab Emirates with the systems, he added.

But concerns about Iran have only grown in recent months as Tehran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels and has enough fissile material for several nuclear bombs if it chooses to build them.

There have been several Iranian attacks on commercial shipping the region, including a still-murky drone assault on the tanker Campo Square on Feb. 10 that's been cited by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Iran carried out that attack, which wounded no one on board, according to a U.S. defense official who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

Iran has denied targeting the vessel, though it has denied other attacks attributed to it since the collapse of the nuclear deal following America's withdrawal from the accord in 2018.

"Obviously the nuclear component is all being handled via diplomatic means," Cooper said. "I think over a two-year period, we have for sure seen an increase in the number of malign activities, much of which we've been catching just in the last 60 to 90 days."

The United States has, however, interdicted a number of ships carrying weapons bound for Yemen's Houthi rebels from Iran, and France as well as seized one. A United Nations arms embargo has prohibited weapons transfers to the Iranian-backed Houthis since 2014.

Cooper declined to say whether the increase in seizures represented new intelligence obtained by the U.S. or an increasing number of vessels heading to Yemen.

"I won't be able to get to the intelligence piece of it other than to say it's an area that we're clearly focused on with our partners," Cooper said. "We've had a lot of success and … our job is to just remain vigilant and keep at the mission."

Iran also has briefly seized several of the American drones being tested in the region in late August and early September. However, Cooper said Iran hadn't made an attempt to do so again.

"The Iranian attempted seizures were flagrant. They were unwarranted. They were certainly unprofessional, but most importantly, they were a gross violation of international law," Cooper said.

"Since then, we've had six exercises of varying scale, bilaterally and multilaterally. We've had no issues with Iran attempting to do anything with the drones."

Cooper added that with Israel now working directly with the U.S. military's Central Command — as Arab nations in the region do — also offered additional support to counter Iran.

"The perspective among regional leaders that the No. 1 threat, or the most-serious threat, is from Iran has allowed us to work more closely with Israel," he said.
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See what I mean there's just too many issues to deal with and getting spread
out that far once more in the sand pits. It seems like never ending ordeals.
What the hell's next - this shit is getting really old. You wonder by taxes
are going up whose paying for all these weapons. We are getting spread
pretty thin and they are taking advantage of us at every turn. It stink's
to high heaven's we "are not" the world cops! - We are not expendable!!!
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