NEW YORK – Prime Minister Yair Lapid urged his British counterpart, Liz Truss, to abandon the defunct Iran deal and begin talks with Tehran for a better agreement that would prevent the Islamic Republic from becoming a nuclear state.
In their meeting at the UN on Wednesday on the sidelines of the General Assembly’s 77th opening session, Lapid told Truss that Israel’s expectation is the advancement of a longer and stronger deal that will provide a response to the full range of threats stemming from Iran.
Downing Street said Truss confirmed there was “a need for a long-term strategy to contain the threat from Iran.”
Lapid emphasized to Truss the “necessity of avoiding further compromises with Iran,” according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Truss also spoke with Lapid about the need for a unified front to contain Russia’s war on Ukraine, “including on economic sanctions.” Israel has yet to join the international sanctions regime against Moscow.
Truss welcomed the progress that has been made toward the conclusion of a new free trade agreement, reiterating the UK’s commitment to signing a “deal [with Israel], which delivers for the digital and services sectors,” Downing Street said.