Austin to Visit Israel Next Wednesday

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to visit Israel next Wednesday, according to sources. 

The visit, which will last for two days, comes in light of Washington's continued efforts to calm tensions in the West Bank, and escalating concern in Israel and US about the significant progress made by Iran in its nuclear program.

It is worth mentioing that, the Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday evening that Iran has made "remarkable progress" in its nuclear program since the United States left the 2015 nuclear deal in 2015.

Iran needed 12 months to produce a nuclear bomb in 2018, now it needs 12 days," said Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Affairs Dr. Colin Kahl.

Iran's nuclear progress since we exited the JCPOA has been remarkable," Kahl said.

The Pentagon's comment comes after a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the agency is in discussions with Iran about the origin of uranium particles enriched to a purity of 83.7% at the Fordow facility, which is very close to the purity required to make nuclear weapons.