Israeli intelligence says Iran approved U.S. deal to ease pressure, not to finalize nuclear agreement

Israeli intelligence officials believe Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is not seeking a final agreement with the United States, according to a Tuesday evening report on Channel 12 News. The assessment is that his approval of the current memorandum of understanding was meant to lift the American naval blockade on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, and to help restore the economy and the regime.

At the same time, the officials said Khamenei does not want to reach understandings on Iran’s nuclear program. Security sources also warned Israeli political leaders in the past day that Tehran is likely to drag out the process, and that the planned 60 days of negotiations could become much longer.

A senior security official said there is concern that during the talks Iran may take steps on the ground that would shorten its path to a nuclear weapon. “We expect nothing else from a revenge-driven regime,” he said. “It would be very surprising if Iran does not invest all its efforts and tricks to shorten its breakout time to the bomb, under the cover of the talks.”