Israeli defense officials estimate that the entire US-Iran negotiation process is bad for Israel, as it will likely not take Israel’s security concerns into account.
(photo credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)
Senior defense officials are expressing concern about the ongoing talks between Iran and the United States, amid assessments by Iranian experts that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei does not intend to abandon the nation’s nuclear project.
According to experts, Khamenei views nuclear developments as critical to the regime’s survival and will, at most, agree to temporarily pause the development process. What is more, it is not known where Iran’s 60% enriched uranium is stored.
Additionally, Iran does not intend to give up its arsenal of ballistic missiles, some of which are aimed at Israel.
Thus, defense officials estimate that the entire US-Iran negotiation process is bad for Israel, as it will likely not take Israel’s security concerns into account.
Currently, there are two options. The first, a “safe haven” agreement, would prevent Israel from attacking Iran.
The second, an “open” agreement, would allow Israel to attack Iran in order to remove threats and maintain security interests. This is reminiscent of the agreement between the Houthis and the US – it left the threat open-ended but gave the IDF freedom to act.
The latter option appears to be more advantageous for Israel, accounting for the possibility of a breakdown in US-Iran negotiations leading to US military action in Iran. The IDF is prepared for this possibility, among others.
The IDF is also preparing for a variety of scenarios in which talks break down and Iran uses proxies to harm Israel in a way that would require a military response.
The framework of the negotiations will be revealed in the coming days, at which point it will be possible to understand the extent to which the US military presence in the Middle East realistically deters the Iranian regime.
Netanyahu to meet Trump in Washington to discuss US-Iran talks
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump are expected to meet in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the US-Iran nuclear negotiations, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Saturday evening.
“The prime minister believes that any negotiations must include limiting ballistic missiles and ending support for the Iranian axis,” the PMO stated.
Previously, Trump stated that the nuclear talks, which took place on Friday in Muscat, Oman, were “very good” and that US and Iranian officials are “going to meet again early next week,” while speaking with reporters on Air Force One.
“They want to make a deal,” Trump said of Iran, adding that, regardless of other terms that may be included in a potential future deal, Iran will be allowed “no nuclear weapons.”
As reported by The Jerusalem Post