US, Israel kick off largest ever military exercise as Iran nuclear talks falter

January 23, 2023 The United States and Israel are set to kick off the largest combined exercise ever held between the two nations' militaries on Monday as the Biden administration's attempts to negotiate a return to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement have faltered and Tehran has turned to Russia to shore up its own defense capabilities. Four nuclear-capable US B-52 bombers, F-35 stealth fighters, F-15s, F-18s and an aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS George H.W. Bush are among the 142 US and Israeli aircraft and 12 warships participating in the weeklong event, dubbed Juniper Oak 23.2. Some…