"The president has asked his team to be prepared in the event that diplomacy fails and we must turn to other options," said Psaki.
"We will have no choice but to take additional measures," she added.
Her comments came after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the Pentagon on Thursday, and both sides said they would expand cooperation in the face of the Iranian threat.
During the meeting, Minister Gantz thanked Secretary Austin for the ongoing cooperation between the respective defense establishments, which is unparalleled on all levels. He also expressed gratitude for Secretary Austin’s personal commitment and contribution to strong US-Israel relations and to the security of the State of Israel.
The Ministers discussed emerging challenges and opportunities in the region, with a particular focus on the developing challenge vis-à-vis the Iranian nuclear program and its regional aggression.
Minister Gantz and Secretary Austin also touched on the importance of maintaining Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME) in an increasingly unstable region, and the critical need for the replenishment of Israel’s air defense systems. READ MORE
