Former US vice president Dick Cheney has dismissed US nuclear negotiations with Tehran, backing the idea of an Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

He sharply criticized US President Barack Obama during a private speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas this past weekend, according to Mother Jones.

During the meeting, Cheney recalled a meeting he had with Israeli General Amos Yadlin in 2007.

Yadlin took part in the destruction of Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981 and obliteration of Syria’s nuclear reactor in the Deir ez-Zor region in 2007.

Recalling his conversation with Yadlin, Cheney said, „He looked across the table over dinner, and he said, ‚Two down, one to go.‘ I knew exactly what he meant.“

„One to go“ was an obvious reference to bombing Iran’s nuclear sites, Mother Jones reported.

The former official also called Obama a weak commander-in-chief and said his duties as president to protect America from all enemies “is not being pursued in any kind of coherent manner.“

„The bottom line is,“ Cheney said, „The United States‘ position in [the Middle East] is worse than at any time in my lifetime.“