Lapid Says Emerging Iran Deal Is a Total Failure for Netanyahu

Opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night over the emerging U.S.-Iran agreement, saying it endangers Israel’s security and leaves Iran too much intact. Speaking on social media and in an interview on the "Kikar HaShabbat" studio, Lapid argued that the deal does not achieve any of Israel’s war objectives.

According to Lapid, "the regime survives, the missile program remains, and Iran can rebuild the nuclear program." He said the agreement is a "complete failure" for Netanyahu and claimed, "in the process he is turning us into a client state that receives orders about its national security." Lapid also dismissed government efforts to shape public perception, saying, "No press conference and no media spin or AI video will hide the failure."

His remarks came amid strong warnings from senior Israeli figures about the agreement. Senior security officials said in the evening that "the Iranians got everything they wanted" and that the deal threatens Israel’s security interests. U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier that a framework agreement with Iran is expected to be signed the next day.

International reports said Pakistan’s foreign ministry announced the signing ceremony would take place in Islamabad and be completed remotely online, but Iran’s foreign ministry rejected those reports. Lapid ended with a political message, saying the next government will have a historic job to repair the damage caused by Netanyahu’s inability to turn military achievements into strategic gains.