Israeli spy chief visits Washington for talks on Iran

JERUSALEM

The head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service traveled to the United States on Sunday for talks with US officials on Iran's nuclear program.

David Barnea is expected to hand the US officials "updated intelligence on Tehran's efforts" regarding its nuclear activities, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported.

The Mossad chief will convey Israel's messages to intensify sanctions on Iran along with putting a real military threat on the table against Tehran, the daily said.

According to the newspaper, Barnea will inform Washington that Israel will not be bound to any nuclear deal with Iran and will keep its efforts to quell Iran's nuclear activity.

"Iran will not have nuclear weapons, not in the coming years, not ever. That is my promise, that is Mossad's promise," Barnea said on Friday.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz is scheduled to visit Washington on Wednesday to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for talks on Iran's nuclear program.

Following a five-month break, Iran and world powers resumed their talks in Vienna on Monday in a last-ditch attempt to restore the 2015 nuclear accord that former US President Donald Trump's administration withdrew from in May 2018.

The talks, however, ended on Thursday without achieving a breakthrough.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar