Biden's meeting with Israeli PM delayed due to Afghanistan situation

FILE PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., U.S. August 25, 2021. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's meeting with President Joe Biden on Thursday has been delayed, the White House and an Israeli official said, while Biden holds consultations on the deadly explosions in Afghanistan.

Bennett had been due to meet Biden in the Oval Office at 11:30 pm Eastern time, with Iran's nuclear program high on the agenda. The Israeli official, speaking in condition of anonymity, said the talks were still expected to be held later in the day but did not yet have a scheduled time.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks as he meets with members of his national security team and private sector leaders to discuss how to "improve the nation's cybersecurity," in the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., August 25, 2021. REUTERS/Leah Millis

(Reporting By Matt Spetalnick, Editing by Franklin Paul)