Israel Wary as Trump’s Iran Deal Leaves Nuclear Issues Unresolved

Israel’s security and intelligence establishment is treating the overnight U.S.-Iran framework deal with deep skepticism, warning that it amounts to only a 60-day postponement of the core crisis. The agreement, announced by the White House on Sunday night, promises an immediate ceasefire on all fronts and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to free shipping from Friday, but Israeli officials say the most dangerous issues, especially Iran’s nuclear program, uranium enrichment levels, and the missile project, have merely been pushed into later talks.

The deal was reportedly reached after a 15-hour diplomatic sprint led by mediators from Qatar and Pakistan. In a call from the White House, President Donald Trump praised the agreement, threatened Iran with renewed military action if no final nuclear deal is reached, and said China and Russia stayed out of the fighting. He also told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel should align itself with Washington, while insisting that U.S. strikes pressured Tehran into accepting the deal.

On Truth Social, Trump celebrated the reopening of Hormuz, writing, “I hereby fully authorize the free and open passage of the Strait of Hormuz… Ships of the world, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” Vice President JD Vance told Fox News the agreement could reshape the Middle East for 50 years if Iran complies and said it would prevent Tehran from ever obtaining nuclear weapons. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, however, said it had given up nothing on the nuclear issue and said final talks would begin only after the other side fulfills its commitments.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed that the last-minute Qatar-mediated negotiations lasted about 15 hours and that the text was revised by both sides. He said Iran’s commitments would begin on Friday, alongside the immediate lifting of the U.S. naval blockade and an end to the conflict on all fronts, including Lebanon. The deal is set to be signed in Geneva on Friday by Iranian officials Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Abbas Araghchi, with Vance present and possibly Trump. Israeli analysts say the accord leaves Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and nuclear facilities in place, including about 12 tons of enriched material, some at 60 percent, enough, they say, for 10 to 12 bombs. Markets reacted positively, with Brent crude falling 4.1 percent to $83.75 and U.S. crude dropping 4.7 percent to $80.87 a barrel.