Former Israeli official: Americans should not give Iranians leverage by easing sanctions Former Israeli official: Americans should not give Iranians leverage by easing sanctions Yaakov Amidror, a former Israeli national security adviser, says the Biden administration needs to grasp that it’s a “different Middle East. I don’t think the old notions and ideas will work.” (January 29, 2021 / JNS) As the new Biden administration takes shape, Israeli leaders in recent days have been outspoken in their warnings about Iran and its pursuit of nuclear weapons, hinting at possible military strikes if the Islamic Republic continues its path towards nuclearization. In what can be seen as a clear message to the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned this week that Israel “will not allow Iran to arm itself with nuclear weapons.”