JERUSALEM (JTA) — U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said the goal of Israel and the United States is to stop Iran from building nuclear weapons.
“There is nothing to worry about over our joint approach to the Iranian issue,” Shapiro said in an interview Monday with Israel Radio from New York. “Our goals are the same and our leaders agree on these goals. The main objective is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.”
Shapiro also said that both President Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agree that diplomacy is the best way to deal with Iran’s nuclear program.
“What is required now is not just soothing words from the new Iranian government but also real, practical, verifiable steps that can lead to a meaningful agreement — one that will ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons under any circumstances,” Shapiro said.
The ambassador said Israel and the United States are sharing information on Iran’s nuclear program and the intelligence cooperation between the countries is “unprecedented.”
Netanyahu and Obama were set to meet Monday at the White House ahead of the Israeli leader’s scheduled address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
