US supplies Israel with four long-range refuellers, which 'could be used in Iran strikes'

The US agreed on Thursday to supply Israel with long-range refuellers which could be used in air strikes against Iran, according to reports.

The nearly $1 billion deal, financed through US military aid, will see Israel obtain four Boeing KC-46As, widely viewed as the most advanced refuellers in the world.

Israel will replace its current fleet of Boeing 707 refuellers between 2025 and 2026 and comes amid continued tensions with regional rival Iran.

"The Boeing Company is proud to be a long-term partner in building the strength of the State of Israel and strengthening the military capabilities of the IDF (Israel’s army)," James Burgess, Boeing vice president and manager of the Boeing KC-46 refuelling aircraft programme, said according to i24 News.

A $972 million agreement for the Boeings was signed by the US State Department on Thursday, which will be financed via US aid funds, the Israeli broadcaster reported.

The aircraft could be used by Israel in long-range strikes against Iran, experts say, and comes amid deadlock between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Israel has strongly opposed a revival of the Iran nuclear deal which former President Donald Trump announced the US would withdraw from in 2018.

Talks on resuscitating the deal have been deadlocked in recent months, which if passed could provide Iran with sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme.

Israel, which has its own undeclared nuclear arsenal, has repeatedly claimed that Tehran wants to build nukes and threatened military strikes on Iran's facilities.