WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Szubin will visit Israel for talks on national security priorities and Ukraine to press for a continuation of sanctions against Russia.
"In Israel, Acting Under Secretary Szubin will meet with government officials and members of the think tank community to discuss national security priorities, including efforts to combat Hezbollah and the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, [JCPA]" the release explained.
Under the JCPA nuclear deal, Iran gave up stockpiles of enriched uranium, closed a nuclear reactor and shut down uranium enrichment centrifuges and allowed international inspections, in exchange for sanctions relief worth more than $100 billion.
In Ukraine, Szubin switches topics to international sanctions imposed on Moscow following Crimea’s 2014 vote to exit Ukraine and rejoin Russia.
The US is pressing to keep sanctions in place amid growing calls in some European nations to end the penalties that many consider counterproductive.
