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Israeli defense minister in U.S. for talks on Iran’s nuclear program

14 December 2011 17:25 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has left for Washington to discuss Iran’s nuclear program with top U.S. officials, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

He is expected to meet over the weekend with U.S. President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and other high-level security and intelligence officials.

"A host of issues on the agenda will be discussed. Iran’s ( nuclear program) will obviously take center stage," Barak told Army Radio on Wednesday.

While both Israel and the United States have not ruled out the option of a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, American officials have expressed concern that Israel will attempt to take independent military action without informing the U.S., which last month imposed a new round of sanctions that largely target Tehran’ s petrochemicals industry.

Addressing a conference in Washington last week, Panetta reiterated the U.S. administration’s position that Israel should work together with the U.S. and other members of the international community to thwart Iran’s efforts to acquire nuclear weaponry.

"Barak’s frequent trips to Washington are more than likely meant to coordinate efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions with the Americans," a source close to the Israeli government told Xinhua.

Barak and Obama are expected to meet during the 71st conference of the Union for Reform Judaism in North America, a biennial event attended by top Jewish leaders representing congregations in 14 countries.

The Israeli defense minister will address the conference on Thursday and Obama the following day.

Israel’s political echelon is reportedly embarrassed that Barak has de facto taken over the responsibility of coordinating policy issues with the White House from Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, according to the Hebrew-language Israel Hayom daily.

Relations between Lieberman, who chairs the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu Party, and Clinton are strained, with the two reportedly avoiding each other even when attending the same events.

"Clinton is a busy woman. Our itineraries often clash," Lieberman explained at a press briefing in Jerusalem on Monday.