During a visit to the United States, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant once again warned against the threat posed by Iran's nuclear armament.
"The greatest threat to the future of the world and the future of our region is Iran, and time is running out," Gallant said during a meeting with his counterpart Lloyd Austin in Washington on Tuesday, according to his office.
"Now is the time to realize the commitment of American administrations over the years to promise to prevent Iran [from] possessing nuclear weapon[s]," said Gallant. Israel has long warned about Tehran's nuclear armament programme.
Since the start of the Gaza war following the massacre of Israelis carried out by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas almost nine months ago, various pro-Iranian groups as well as Iran have attacked Israel with rockets, grenades or artillery fire.
After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu verbally attacked the US government in a recent video over a withheld arms shipment, Gallant on Tuesday praised the cooperation by the two sides in the defence of Israel "against the massive attack by Iran and its proxies."
Israel and the US are also working together to reach an agreement in the face of fighting on Israel's northern border. "But we must also discuss readiness for every possible scenario," Gallant said.
Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah have been firing at each other almost every day for more than eight months.
The intensity of the fighting has recently increased significantly. Washington is endeavouring to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict - so far without success.
Israel wants Hezbollah to withdraw behind the Litani river, 30 kilometres from the border, in accordance with a UN resolution. Gallant recently warned that Israel is also prepared to launch a major military operation if necessary.
According to a report by the US broadcaster CNN, senior US representatives assured members of an Israeli delegation that the US would give Israel its full backing should a major war with Hezbollah break out.
