Lapid talks with Biden by phone about the shaping Iran nuclear deal

Call took place after reports suggested Lapid was struggling to schedule a phone conversation with the president

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed the progress of the Iran nuclear deal during a phone conversion on Wednesday. They also spoke about the Islamic Republic’s advancement towards obtaining nuclear weapons, Lapid’s office stated.

The two leaders talked “at length” about different options to stop Iran’s trajectory toward obtaining nuclear weapons, in light of recent regional developments and Tehran’s terror activity “in the Middle East and beyond,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.

The Israeli premier also congratulated the Biden for the latest airstrikes in Syria: Last week, the U.S. targeted infrastructure used by groups connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the area of Deir ez-Zor – the largest city in eastern Syria.

The PMO readout of the call showed Biden emphasizing a deep commitment to the security of the State of Israel, and to maintaining its capabilities against both close and remote enemy threats.

Lapid and Biden talked about promoting relations between the two countries, building on the “Jerusalem Declaration” they cosigned during Biden’s visit to Israel in July. The declaration sought to strengthen the two nations’ strategic partnership, to expand the Abraham Accords and to coordinate efforts in technology and pandemic-preparedness. They also highlighted the importance of their own close relationship.

The call between the two leaders followed reports from local media that Lapid had struggling to get the U.S. president on the phone. The White House reportedly declined the request, saying that the president was “on vacation.”

According to The Jerusalem Post, Lapid will seek a face-to-face meeting with Biden next month during his visit to the United Nations General Assembly.

No readout of the call was made available by the White House at time of publication.