Historic enemies Israel and Saudi Arabia may team up to fight Iran if talks between Iran and the West fail to curb Iran’s nuclear program, the Sunday Times reports.
According to the report, Israel would carry out the actual airstrike, with Saudi Arabia providing technical support.
The report indicates growing upset in the Arab world over the failure to stop Iran’s nuclearprogram. There were previous reports that Saudi Arabia would allow Israel to use its airspace to stop Iran, but now the Sunni Muslim country is reportedly prepared to cooperate over the use of planes and drones as well.
“Once the Geneva agreement is signed, the military option will be back on the table. The Saudis are furious and are willing to give Israel all the help it needs,” an unnamed diplomat told the paper.
Both Israel and Saudi Arabia fear that talks between the Western powersand Iran in Geneva will yield an agreement that relaxes sanctions on Iran without effectively curbing Iran’s nuclear program.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has warned that an agreement that leaves Iran with its ability to enrich uranium and produce a bomb would be“bad and dangerous.”
A deal has not yet been signed, a fact that is reportedly due to France’s insistence on more verifiable guarantees that Iran would not obtain nuclear weapons capability. Netanyahu has urged French diplomats tomaintain their stance.
Israel’s vocal concern over the talks stands in contrast to United States President Barack Obama’s enthusiasm. U.S. officials are reportedly angry over Israel’s criticism.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reportedly recently told Senators to “ignore anything the Israelis say” about Iran. U.S. President Barack Obama has reportedly refused to take Netanyahu’s phone calls in a deliberate snub.
