Israel’s security establishment has raised urgent concerns over the increasing likelihood of a new nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran, marking a dramatic shift from previous assessments. According to a report by Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan), senior officials now believe a deal is far more probable than once thought — prompting an emergency cabinet meeting to strategize a response. The sudden change in tone suggests that behind-the-scenes negotiations, mediated by Oman, may be progressing faster than anticipated, leaving Israel scrambling to adjust its stance.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already made Israel’s position clear: any acceptable deal must lead to the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear, chemical, and missile programs — mirroring Libya’s 2003 disarmament agreement. However, experts doubt Tehran would ever agree to such sweeping concessions, raising questions about whether Washington is preparing to settle for a weaker deal. For Israel, which views a nuclear-armed Iran as an existential threat, even a limited agreement could be seen as a dangerous compromise.
The potential revival of US-Iran diplomacy comes after three rounds of indirect talks, with Oman facilitating discussions between the two adversaries. While details remain scarce, the broad framework appears to involve sanctions relief in exchange for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities. But Israeli officials fear that easing economic pressure without ironclad guarantees could allow Tehran to secretly advance its weapons program — just as it allegedly did before the original 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) collapsed.
Netanyahu’s government has long opposed any agreement that falls short of permanently neutralizing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. His comparison to Libya’s total disarmament underscores Israel’s maximalist demands, but it also highlights the vast gap between what Jerusalem deems acceptable and what Washington might settle for. With US President Joe Biden eager to avoid another Middle East crisis, Israel worries that geopolitical expediency could override its security concerns.
The emergency cabinet meeting scheduled for Sunday will likely focus on contingency plans, including potential military options, should diplomacy fail to curb Iran’s nuclear progress. Israel has previously carried out covert operations against Iranian facilities, and some analysts suggest it may resort to more aggressive measures if a deal is perceived as too lenient. Yet, unilateral action risks straining ties with the US, leaving Netanyahu in a precarious balancing act.
As tensions simmer, the broader Middle East watches closely. A US-Iran deal could reshape regional alliances, with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states also wary of Tehran’s ambitions. For Israel, the stakes couldn’t be higher — any misstep in handling this crisis could either strengthen its deterrence or leave it isolated in a more dangerous neighborhood.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already made Israel’s position clear: any acceptable deal must lead to the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear, chemical, and missile programs — mirroring Libya’s 2003 disarmament agreement. However, experts doubt Tehran would ever agree to such sweeping concessions, raising questions about whether Washington is preparing to settle for a weaker deal. For Israel, which views a nuclear-armed Iran as an existential threat, even a limited agreement could be seen as a dangerous compromise.
The potential revival of US-Iran diplomacy comes after three rounds of indirect talks, with Oman facilitating discussions between the two adversaries. While details remain scarce, the broad framework appears to involve sanctions relief in exchange for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities. But Israeli officials fear that easing economic pressure without ironclad guarantees could allow Tehran to secretly advance its weapons program — just as it allegedly did before the original 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) collapsed.
Netanyahu’s government has long opposed any agreement that falls short of permanently neutralizing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. His comparison to Libya’s total disarmament underscores Israel’s maximalist demands, but it also highlights the vast gap between what Jerusalem deems acceptable and what Washington might settle for. With US President Joe Biden eager to avoid another Middle East crisis, Israel worries that geopolitical expediency could override its security concerns.
The emergency cabinet meeting scheduled for Sunday will likely focus on contingency plans, including potential military options, should diplomacy fail to curb Iran’s nuclear progress. Israel has previously carried out covert operations against Iranian facilities, and some analysts suggest it may resort to more aggressive measures if a deal is perceived as too lenient. Yet, unilateral action risks straining ties with the US, leaving Netanyahu in a precarious balancing act.
As tensions simmer, the broader Middle East watches closely. A US-Iran deal could reshape regional alliances, with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states also wary of Tehran’s ambitions. For Israel, the stakes couldn’t be higher — any misstep in handling this crisis could either strengthen its deterrence or leave it isolated in a more dangerous neighborhood.
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