Israeli officials blast reported U.S.-Iran deal as dangerous and incomplete

A senior Israeli political source called the emerging U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, expected to be signed this week, a "shocking agreement," even as Israel has responded publicly with relative restraint. The official said Donald Trump’s deal with Iran is "bad in almost every possible respect," because it effectively abandons the chance of toppling the Iranian regime by channeling large sums of money to Tehran once the deal takes effect.

The source argued that the agreement leaves Iran able to rearm with advanced missiles, keep funding terror groups that threaten Israel, and preserve a partial and insufficient nuclear arrangement. He warned that, as under the 2015 Obama deal, Iran could wait out the U.S. political cycle, hold off until a change of administration in two years, and then resume its nuclear sprint. He also dismissed Trump’s touted achievement of reopening the Strait of Hormuz as questionable, saying the strait had been open until the launch of operations "Rage of Fury" and "Roar of the Lion."

The official said the deal could also constrain Israel in Lebanon, because Trump may press Jerusalem not to strike in Beirut in order to preserve the agreement, limiting Israel’s freedom of action against Hezbollah. Still, he added that the wider military campaign has produced major gains despite the deal, pushing Iran’s nuclear program back many years, destroying its missile stockpiles and production facilities, and erasing know-how needed to build nuclear weapons, which will take Iran a very long time to rebuild.

Political reactions were also sharply critical. Itamar Ben Gvir said the deal does not bind Israel and insisted it must continue defending its citizens and soldiers, without accepting less than Hezbollah’s dismantling or a withdrawal from captured areas. Miki Zohar was more upbeat, saying Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are preparing more surprises before the elections. Hanoch Milwidsky, Ohad Tal, Moshe Solomon, Gadi Eisenkot, Benny Gantz and Yair Golan also attacked the agreement, warning it could restrict Israeli operations in Lebanon, endanger northern residents, or amount to a strategic failure that strengthens Tehran.