Harvard University National Security Program Director Tad Oelstrom claims that a proposed US sale of advanced bunker-busting bombs to Israel as part of a $1.9 billion weapons deal signals the two countries stand united against a nuclear armed Iran.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) � A proposed US sale of advanced bunker-busting bombs to Israel as part of a $1.9 billion weapons deal signals the two countries stand united against a nuclear armed Iran, Harvard University National Security Program Director Tad Oelstrom told Sputnik.

�If the BLU-113 [bunker busting bomb] will be released to Israel it will be certainly a counter to any Iranian adventurism in the region relative to the Israeli-Iran equation,� Oelstrom said on Thursday.

Oelstrom explained the sale is another factor in the Iran nuclear negotiations and Tehran needs to see that �the US and Israel are still very closely tied in terms of the desire to keep Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.�

On Monday, the US State Department announced it had approved a nearly $1.9 billion proposed weapons sale to Israel to add more than 30,000 bombs to its existing inventory, including 50 BLU-113.

The BLU-113 is an �important equation in terms of balance of power and capability in an air force like the Israelis,� Oelstrom said.

The sale must be approved by the US Congress.

The US State Department said the sale would contribute to the national security of Israel and is part of a longstanding security relationship with the country. Israel already has a significant number of the bombs, but the sale will maintain or replenish existing inventory, the US State Department said.

The proposed weapons sale comes as the international community and Iran approach an end of June deadline over Tehran�s nuclear program.

Israel has expressed concerns over the nuclear deal, warning it will not prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and the lifting of sanctions could empower Iran in the region.

The Gulf Cooperation Council has expressed similar concerns as the United States has pledged to boost security and defense cooperation with its Arab Gulf allies.

Oelstrom suggested a large military deal might show �recovery activity� to repair perceived or real fractures in US-Israeli relations.

�I am not so sure the United States and Israel are as far apart as what people think. This is a message that they are probably closer than what we think,� Oelstrom said.

Oelstrom concluded there should not be a concern that the weapons sale will in anyway imperil the Iran nuclear negotiations or trigger an Israeli response.

Israeli and US officials have repeated that all options remain on the table, including military force, to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The estimated break-out time for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon is less than one year.

Iran�s nuclear facilities are reportedly well-fortified with significant infrastructure underground that would require bunker busting bombs to damage or destroy.
By Sputnik News