Yoni Ben Menachem
Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, June 12, 2023
“While the agreement may temporarily halt uranium enrichment, Iran is already on the verge of becoming a nuclear-capable nation.”
While the United States and Iran have denied ongoing negotiations for a temporary nuclear agreement, Jerusalem refuses to accept these denials. It is believed that two Arab countries, including Oman, are mediating between the U.S. and Iran. Israel is deeply concerned about the potential outcome of these negotiations, even if they take a long time to materialize.
According to senior officials in Jerusalem, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Ron Dermer, the Minister of Strategic Affairs, expressed their worries about the Iranian issue following their recent meeting with Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Advisor, in Washington.
Israeli sources claim that the secret negotiations between the United States and Iran for a new nuclear agreement are based on the principle of “less for less.” This means reaching a temporary agreement on only specific issues that both parties can agree upon. In this case, the focus is on Iran halting uranium enrichment in exchange for releasing its frozen funds in the West, which amount to several hundred billion dollars.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also addressed this topic during a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, who had just concluded a visit to Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu conveyed Israel’s opposition to any U.S. agreement with Iran and emphasized that such an agreement would not bind Israel.
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