Israeli officials warn the proposed agreement may leave Iran’s missile arsenal intact, ease financial pressure on Tehran and limit the IDF’s freedom of action in Lebanon; They support continuing siege on Iran and say Iran likely will cheat from the outset.
Israel fears the emerging agreement between the United States and Iran will not restrict Tehran’s development of ballistic missiles. Israeli officials are also concerned it could undermine the IDF’s freedom of action in Lebanon, and perhaps even lead to a demand for withdrawal. Some diplomatic officials are warning that the IDF could be handcuffed and paralyzed in Lebanon. Added to that are a series of objectives cited at the start of the war as goals Israel sought to achieve — and the emerging agreement does not necessarily address them.
Another concern raised in Israel is that the agreement will unfreeze billions of dollars for Iran, funds that could ultimately be directed toward rearmament and strengthening Tehran’s proxies across the region. Israeli officials said Wednesday night that most of the Israeli defense establishment supports continuing the siege on Iran, arguing that the Islamic Republic is collapsing from within — and that an agreement would be harmful because Iran is expected to cheat from the outset.
“It is terrible for Israel,” said an Israeli official familiar with the details. “This is a bad agreement that only perpetuates the ayatollahs’ rule. It is a lifeline for them, when every day that passes brings them closer to collapse.” Israel is also disappointed that the emerging agreement would limit uranium enrichment for only 15 years, even though U.S. President Donald Trump declared that “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.” “How is this much different from Obama’s nuclear deal?” one Israeli official asked. “That deal had a sunset clause, and so does this one. Iran cheated anyway and will have to wait in any case, then break out to a bomb when Trump is no longer here.” (Read More)
