CRI听力:Pentagon Chief Visits Israel

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has arrived in Israel for a visit aimed at deepening military ties.

He is the first US Cabinet member to visit the Jewish state since the Iran nuclear deal was clinched last week.

Carter says he has no expectation of changing Israel's opposition to the Iran deal, but will instead seek to deepen security ties.

Increased U.S. military-related support is expected to be on the table.

Carter is scheduled to meet with his Israeli counterpart and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Following Israel, Carter will also visit Jordan and Saudi Arabia, two U.S. allies whose leaders also are worried about implications of the nuclear deal.

The trip comes as the US is trying to reassure Israel and Arab allies that the Iran nuclear deal brings a safer Middle East.

Speaking to US media, US Secretary of State John Kerry again defended the deal.

"What we know however is that an Iran without a nuclear weapon is a very different country than a Iran with one and that a Middle East without a nuclear weapon is a safer Middle East. So we believe that Israel, we believe the region will ultimately be much safe because of this deal."

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains steadfast in opposing the Iran deal.

"This regime has just received a dream deal. It may get a deal that may block or delay Iran's path to one or two bombs for the next few years, assuming they don't cheat, but paves their way to many, many bombs after a decade or say because they become a threshold state with full international legitimacy."

Israel fears that Tehran's economic gains from a lifting of Western sanctions could boost Iranian-backed guerrillas in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

There are also fears it could even lead to an arms race with Arab states unfriendly to Israel.