Netanyahu to Address Israelis as U.S.-Iran Deal Faces Questions

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to speak to the Israeli public tonight at 8:00 p.m., his first address since the agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and the Islamic Republic of Iran became public. The speech is expected to focus on Israel’s position toward the deal, which many circles are calling a “surrender agreement.” Former prime minister Naftali Bennett is also expected to speak tonight, and both remarks are likely to center on the deal’s implications for Israel’s security and wider military activity in the Middle East.

At the same time, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said the United States and Iran have signed the deal digitally, ahead of a formal signing expected on Friday. According to reports, the agreement would extend the ceasefire by another 60 days, fully open the Strait of Hormuz and clear mines there, while the United States would gradually lift its naval blockade and ease sanctions on Iranian oil exports. Vance said it remains unclear whether Trump will ultimately give the document his final approval. “It is hard to say when or if the president will sign,” he told reporters, adding, “We are still going back and forth on some wording clauses.”

The speech comes amid sharp tension between Israel and Washington. On Tuesday afternoon, Israel carried out a targeted airstrike in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, under the direct instruction of Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The move followed heavy internal criticism over the weekend, when Netanyahu was accused of losing influence over Trump and failing to block the emerging deal with Iran.

Despite the announcements, the agreement has not yet been formally signed and could still collapse. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is close to Iran, was first to announce that the deal had been reached, and Trump later confirmed it. Reports also say Lebanon is part of the deal, a core Iranian demand. Israeli reports said Netanyahu told his former Washington ally in a phone call that Israel is not bound by the Lebanon clause and will continue defending itself as before. Tonight’s address is meant to let Netanyahu present Israel’s position and explain the security steps taken in recent days.