Iran dominates talks between Israeli premier, CIA chief

JERUSALEM

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Wednesday discussed the Iranian nuclear issue with CIA Director William Burns amid rising tensions between Tel Aviv and Tehran.

Bennett's office said in a statement that the meeting was held at the headquarters of the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv.

"The two sides discussed strengthening intelligence and security cooperation between Israel and the United States, as well as the situation in the Middle East, with a focus on Iran and the possibilities of expanding and deepening regional cooperation," the statement said.

Burns arrived in Israel on Tuesday and is also expected to visit the Palestinian territories.

The CIA director met on Tuesday with Israeli Mossad spy chief, David Barnea, to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue and other regional challenges that the two agencies intend to cooperate on, the statement said.

On July 29, a ship operated by an Israeli company was attacked in the Gulf of Oman, resulting in the killing two of its crew.

Israel, the UK and the US accused Iran of being behind the attack, the accusations that Tehran strongly denied.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat