Dr. Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, said in an interview to Channel 7 that President Donald Trump has abandoned his security and political promises in favor of a deal he sees as economically advantageous. In Diker’s view, the shift has shocked the Israeli government and the public, and the White House is now issuing unusually sharp criticism of Israel.
Diker argued that Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance believe Iran has already been economically squeezed, with the regime losing about half a billion dollars a day during the sanctions pressure. In his assessment, Trump thinks the United States has already won militarily and is now ready to force an understanding, but Tehran understands Trump’s urgent need for a deal ahead of the midterm elections and is using that leverage. He said Trump’s warnings about a global crisis similar to 1929 exposed his concerns and played into Iranian hands.
According to Diker, Trump was advised by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, both real estate businessmen, that continued tensions in the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a global economic collapse. He said Trump therefore chose to declare a U.S. military victory over the Iranian regime and move toward a memorandum of understanding, not a final agreement. Diker expects Iran will not meet the framework’s conditions and that the deal will not be implemented.
Diker said the U.S. approach now helps Iran break out of isolation while pressuring Israel, which Tehran wanted to portray as the obstacle to negotiations. He called the current arrangement more far-reaching than the Obama deal because it would immediately allow Iran to sell oil and receive sanctions relief on banks, potentially bringing in billions before any final deal. He added that the Arab states, especially the Gulf countries hit by Iranian missiles and drones, are the main victims, and that the situation weakens Trump’s image of a hard line.
Diker praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the situation, saying he is acting “strongly and cleverly” by praising Trump publicly while insisting Israel will keep freedom to strike enemies such as Hezbollah and Hamas. He also warned that senior Israeli ministers should avoid public attacks on the U.S. administration and said the issue should be handled quietly.
