In an unusual briefing to reporters in Tel Aviv, Saturday, May 26, the unnamed US official, described as having intimate knowledge of the Baghdad talks, said: Israel’s concerns are justified and “we are doubtful it is possible to reach an agreement with Iran, but we must exhaust the diplomatic path because the alternative, whether a nuclear Iran or a regional war, is very serious.” DEBKAfile: This was a paraphrase of the contention by Israeli officials that an attack is preferable to a nuclear Iran. The official went on to say that the US would continue to pressure Iran with sanctions until it ceased enriching uranium.
These comments were the US answer to DEBKAfile's disclosures Friday, May 25, that President Obama had rejected Israel’s demands of Iran and, the next day, that Israeli leaders’ refused to meet the senior US delegate to the Baghdad talks, State’s Wendy Sherman.