Gantz Warns of Rising Iranian Aggression at Munich Security Conference

“Iranian aggression is rising – not just in the nuclear program but also in its regional attacks,” Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned on Sunday in an address to the Munich Security Conference. Gantz cautioned that “A nuclear deal, if signed with Iran – does not mark the end of the road” and said that “all steps must be taken to ensure that Iran never becomes a nuclear-threshold state. The world must never come to terms with it and Israel will never come to terms with it.” During his address Gantz also praised the “new brave leaders in the region who are prepared to develop relations with Israel.” Gantz on Saturday met with US Vice President Kamala Harris on the sidelines of the conference. The meeting centered on Iran’s nuclear ability and its threats to the region, Gantz said in a series of tweets. The two leaders also discussed the importance of expanding the Abraham Accords, the situation in Ukraine, and the importance of confidence-building measures with the Palestinians, Gantz tweeted. Gantz also met on Saturday with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during the conference, as well as Greece’s prime minister and defense minister; Finland’s defense minister; Georgia’s prime minister, foreign minister and defense minister; the president of the World Economic Forum; and the Bahraini undersecretary for foreign affairs. As part of his address Gantz pointed to the infiltration of Israel’s airspace twice last week by drones sent by Hizbullah in Lebanon and issued a threat. “I have a clear message for Hizbullah: Their operatives are familiar with the noise made by our aircraft engines, and with their capabilities. If we are required to respond and to attack in order to defend ourselves, we will do so and we will cause great damage to the terror organization and its surroundings.”