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2026-06-17 Israel-Palestine-Jordan
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'We don't owe you anything': Israel is preventing the US from making peace with Iran
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As long as Iran continues with their Hezbollah terrorist support project, Israel shouldn't make peace with Iran.
| Indeed. An interesting analysis, though. |
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
by Leonid Tsukanov
[REGNUM] After months of tense negotiations, Iran and the United States appear to be closing in on an agreement—at least an interim one. A symbolic 14-point memorandum is scheduled to be signed in Geneva this weekend and could, theoretically, end the protracted standoff.
However, Israel, a key US ally in the Middle East, is dissatisfied with the current version of the memorandum and considers it detrimental to its own national interests. It has demonstrated this by continuing strikes on Lebanese territory.
Against this backdrop, skeptics expect the Israelis to take swift steps to undermine the agreement. For example, a direct escalation to spite Donald Trump
| …to spite him??? Israel didn’t even act to spite President Biden’s team — why would they suddenly be so stupid as to openly spite President Trump? |
just before the treaty's signing. This is already partially happening. However, Israel is quite capable of taking a more cunning approach and striking more than just head-on.
Of course the Joooooos will be cunning instead. People like that, amirite? (The writer is Russian — his people wrote The Protocols of the Elders of Zion so he has a long tradition to uphold.)
As soon as the US and Iran's plans to conclude a historic deal became known, Israel launched a massive campaign of criticism. Those close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including representatives of the security apparatus and the Foreign Ministry, vied with each other to insist that "they don't need such a peace" because it contradicts the Jewish state's fundamental approaches to national security.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir went the furthest, declaring that Israel “owes America nothing” – even taking into account the financial and arms investments the White House has made in recent years.
It's telling that Ben-Gvir's harsh statements have previously been balanced by more measured comments from other officials, even to the point of publicly reprimanding the controversial minister, especially when the issue concerned Israeli-American relations. However, this did not happen this time. It follows that the Minister of National Security has publicly expressed the dominant position.
Israelis, in their view, have compelling reasons for discontent. In addition to demands agreed upon without their participation to end the military operation in Lebanon and curtail operational maneuvers in already captured areas, Netanyahu's cabinet was indignant at the deletion from the draft memorandum of provisions on Iran's missile program and the status of enriched uranium in the Islamic Republic.
Moreover, several days before the public launch of preparations for the deal in Geneva, Netanyahu used all available channels, including personal ones, to convey his concerns to the White House. In a private conversation with Trump, the Israeli prime minister outlined four key conditions under which the Jewish state would consider the Iran deal "right."
These included the removal of highly enriched uranium stockpiles from the Islamic Republic, the dismantling of enrichment infrastructure, the establishment of strict ceilings on the missile program, and the complete dismantling of the proxy group system (the so-called "Axis of Resistance") in the Middle East. However, these provisions were not included in the final text of the memorandum. The US ignored the aspirations of its allies, which offended them.
Left outside the US-Iran agreement, Israel has gained unique leverage over both sides of the conflict. On the one hand, it can test the limits of Tehran's patience with political and, sometimes, military attacks. On the other, it can demand Washington's support and concessions on other fronts in exchange for a short-term reduction in the intensity of attacks on Lebanon.
At the same time, Israel itself is not bound by any additional legal obligations—even though the US has repeatedly attempted to strike a "deal within a deal" to reason with its ally—and is therefore capable of unilaterally violating the integrity of the agreements if necessary. Moreover, the Israeli leadership has made it clear that it does not plan to adhere to the stipulations regarding Lebanon.
And if necessary, it is also prepared for a new round of full-scale confrontation with regional rivals, primarily Iran. Skeptics are watching the Israelis' every move. The signing of the memorandum is scheduled for the 19th, giving ill-wishers ample time for any provocation, including force.
Israel is indeed gradually increasing its previously frozen activity in Lebanon. Specifically, over the past 24 hours, artillery shelled the outskirts of Reyhan in the Jezzine region, and the towns of Sejid and Mahmoudiya were also shelled. Beirut was also hit, suffering several precision strikes. However, it appears that large-scale airstrikes on Lebanese territory remain prohibited.
Despite the ongoing tensions surrounding the issue, Israel is also sending de-escalatory signals. On June 16, Netanyahu held his first press conference in months, detailing the government's impressions of the end of Iran's second campaign.
The key thesis was that the Jewish state had ultimately won this war, as it had managed to avert an "immediate existential threat" from Iran. Moreover, Israeli hawks took credit for Tehran's commitment to abolishing nuclear weapons, as outlined in the memorandum. " With or without an agreement, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. Not today, not tomorrow," Netanyahu retorted.
At the same time, it is difficult to dispute the fact that Israel and the United States have not achieved their original main goal – a change of power in the Islamic Republic.
In any case, judging by the abrupt change in rhetoric, Netanyahu has decided not to engage in direct conflict with Washington, but instead to play a multi-move strategy. That is, to give Trump the opportunity to end the diplomatic marathon by agreeing to the deal the Republicans have repeatedly promised. And at the same time, to use the accompanying respite from the negotiations to build up forces for new operations against Iran, including asymmetric ones.
Netanyahu still has a few months to maneuver this way: before the autumn parliamentary elections enter the active phase, Israel's current leadership has no time to quickly discard strong geopolitical trump cards that could seriously alter the electoral landscape.
Iran’s military command warns it will respond if Israel keeps up southern Lebanon offensive
[IsraelTimes] Iran’s Top Joint Military Command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, says that Israel should expect a hard response from the Iranian armed forces if it does not stop its attacks on southern Lebanon, days after Tehran and Washington announced a deal to end the regional war.
Tehran has insisted that the memorandum of understanding requires Israel to halt its offensive against Hezbollah — a claim that both Jerusalem and Washington have disputed.
Report: Israel fears Iran will use 60 days of US negotiations to fast-track nuclear program
[IsraelTimes] Israel fears Iran will use the reported 60-day nuclear negotiation period with the United States as part of the emerging memorandum of understanding to advance its nuclear program and make progress towards developing a nuclear weapon, Channel 12 reports, citing senior Israeli officials.
According to the report, Israel assesses that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has no intention of reaching a final nuclear agreement and approved the MOU primarily to open up the Strait of Hormuz and secure economic relief for the regime.
Israeli defense officials reportedly warn the government that Tehran “will drag out the process, and the 60 days of negotiation will turn into much more.”
One senior Israeli official tells the network it would be surprising if Iran did not use “all its efforts and tricks to shorten the timeline to nuclear breakout under the cover of negotiations.”
Report: US-Iran deal will halt regional hostilities, lift blockade; Israel kept out of loop amid leak concerns
[IsraelTimes] The US-Iran memorandum of understanding set to be signed in person on Friday provides for a full cessation of hostilities by Iran, the US, and their allies, including in Lebanon, Channel 12 reports, citing a senior US official.
The framework reportedly sees Iran reaffirm its commitment not to develop or acquire nuclear weapons. In 60 days of negotiations beginning immediately after the deal is signed, the MOU further reportedly states, Washington and Tehran are to work to resolve the issue of Iran’s existing stockpile of enriched uranium and to hold talks on future enrichment and the Islamic Republic’s civilian nuclear needs.
Under the reported terms, the US will lift its naval blockade, refrain from imposing new sanctions or reinforcing military forces in the region during the negotiations, and grant Iran sanctions relief for oil sales. Iran, meanwhile, will maintain the status quo regarding its nuclear program and ensure free commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for the 60 days of nuclear talks.
The report says the memorandum will also make Iran’s frozen assets available upon implementation and, if a final lasting agreement is reached, will lead to a US withdrawal of forces deployed to the region and the lifting of all sanctions on Iran. A final deal would also reportedly include a $300 billion fund for investment and reconstruction in Iran.
Channel 12 further reports that senior US officials were divided over the proposal, with Vice President JD Vance and envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff supporting it, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe expressed doubts that Iran would uphold its commitments.
Meanwhile, Israel has yet to be briefed on the agreement’s official terms.
According to Channel 12, Jerusalem requested to review the memorandum, but Washington declined, reportedly out of concern that the details would be leaked.
US moves to offer Iran sanctions relief, despite insisting it would be conditioned on performance — officials
[IsraelTimes] The US is readying to begin offering Iran sanctions relief in the form of a waiver allowing Tehran to export its oil, after the sides inked a memorandum of understanding to end the war between them on Sunday, a US official and a Mideast diplomat tell The Times of Israel.
The US has insisted that the MOU conditions any sanctions relief for Iran on Tehran’s willingness to make concessions in subsequent talks on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program and its conduct in the region.
But the up-front US sanctions waiver on Iranian oil sales would indicate that Iran is not in fact required to make further concessions in order to have some of the economic restrictions against Tehran lifted.
A senior US official briefing reporters on Monday seemed to hint at the sanctions waiver, saying the US would make “some small gestures… in the beginning,” but said those would be conditioned on “small gestures… that show they’re willing to meet their commitments.”
The Wall Street Journal first reported on the sanctions waiver earlier today, but was unclear as to whether it was already in effect.
The report noted that an Iranian oil tanker was allowed to cross the US blockade today, in an indication that the waiver is at least partially in place.
While lifting its curbs on oil exports offers some much-needed relief to Iran, it is seen as one of the more minor steps that the US can take in the realm of sanctions relief.
Washington even signed such a waiver during the recent Iran war, temporarily lifting sanctions on Iranian oil for 30 days, in order to ease pressure on global energy supplies and lower oil prices.
Switzerland confirms US-Iran deal will be signed at Burgenstock resort Friday
[IsraelTimes] The Swiss foreign ministry confirms to AFP that the US-Iran deal will be signed at Switzerland’s mountainside Burgenstock resort on Friday.
The site, located near Lucerne in central Switzerland, is difficult to access and therefore easily secured. It “was proposed by the Pakistani and Qatari mediators, as well as by the US and Iran,” Switzerland’s foreign ministry says.
Hezbollah says Iran pledged to pursue IDF withdrawal from Lebanon in nuclear talks with US
[IsraelTimes] Hezbollah has received assurances from its backer Iran that it will demand a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon in its next phase of talks with the United States, Hezbollah’s media relations office tells Reuters.
An IDF withdrawal will be the result of, and not a pre-condition for, continuing talks between Tehran and Washington following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries on Friday, Hezbollah says.
The group tells Reuters that there will be “no nuclear deal between Iran and the United States unless the Israelis withdraw” from Lebanon.
Trump says US has ‘no obligation’ to invest in Iran
[IsraelTimes] The United States has “no obligation” to invest in Iran even after its deal with the Islamic Republic to end the Middle East war, US President Donald Trump says.
“We are not investing any money” in Iran, Trump says at the G7 summit in France after talks with the emir of Qatar.
Jumping the gun: Several Iranian vessels sailing toward Iranian ports despite US blockade, Iranian state TV says
[IsraelTimes] Three Iranian tankers and two vessels carrying essential goods are currently sailing toward Iranian southern ports from the Indian Ocean, Iranian state TV says, despite a US military advisory note saying yesterday that a blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect until Friday.
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