Top U.S. negotiator on Iran visits Israel

TEHRAN, May 26 (MNA) -- A senior U.S. State Department official traveled to Tel Aviv on Friday to reaffirm the United States’ “unshakeable” commitment to Israel’s security, a day after the end of the talks between six world powers and Iran over its nuclear program. Wendy Sherman, the U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, was scheduled to discuss bilateral and regional issues with senior Israeli officials during her visit, according to a State Department statement issued on Thursday. Some analysts say Sherman’s visit to Israel, immediately after the Baghdad talks and just a few days after the U.S. Senate imposed new sanctions on Iran, shows that Washington is not seeking a settlement to the Iranian nuclear issue based on the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty. Sherman represented the U.S. at the two-day Baghdad talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany), which ended on Thursday. The two sides agreed to another meeting next month in Moscow. Western countries have imposed sanctions on Iran’s energy and financial sectors and insist that Tehran halt enrichment activities before sanctions can be eased. Iran wants the sanctions lifted to help advance the talks. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday that there would be no let up in sanctions, even as the talks continue.