U.S. and Israeli officials engaged in their semi-annual Strategic Dialogue at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem. The meeting, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon and Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, focused on Iran’s nuclear program and the ongoing massacre in Syria.

“The Strategic Dialogue, the highest level regularly scheduled diplomatic meetings between the two countries, highlights the strong alliance and deep ties that bind Israel and the United States,” the U.S. State Department said in a July 12 statement.

The statement added: “Iran's continued quest to develop nuclear weapons, which the United States and Israel are both determined to prevent, the destabilizing role which it plays in the region and its promotion of international terrorism were addressed by the parties.

“The two sides agreed that the ongoing bloodshed inflicted on the Syrian population by the Asad regime, assisted by Iran and Hezbollah, is a source of major humanitarian concern and the continued violence of the Syrian regime against its citizens could also lead to severe consequences for the entire region.”