Former Israeli Consul Warns Trump Has Shifted Toward Iran Deal and 'World Peace' Agenda

Concerns are growing in Israel over U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign policy and the emerging agreement with Iran. Yaki Dayan, Israel’s former consul in Los Angeles, told 103FM that Trump appears to have changed direction, saying, "Trump has moved into a different phase. He is now on the topic of world peace, peace with the Iranians and expanding the Abraham Accords." Dayan added that Trump will want to "show, in deeds, that he is a peace president."

Dayan said the current shape of the deal with Tehran does not look favorable from Israel’s perspective. He said Trump’s idea of victory would be enriched uranium and an end to uranium enrichment, but that the reported plan instead talks about not removing the enriched material and only diluting it, which he called a problem in itself. He also said that within 60 days Trump would lift the economic siege, describing sanctions as the only remaining effective tool. "It does not look great," he said.

Asked about differences with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Dayan said there is indeed a clash of interests. He said the United States and Israel often align, but on Lebanon and Iran they do not, and in such cases the American interest outweighs Israel’s. Israel did not want such a deal, he said, because it felt that as long as Iran’s "murderous regime" remains, the motivation to destroy Israel has not ended.

Dayan was also asked whether Trump is "humiliating" Benjamin Netanyahu with his remarks. He replied that this is simply Trump’s style and is not unique to Israel. "This is the Trump style, there is nothing special here," he said, adding that when Trump’s temperament flares, "there are no immunities," including for Netanyahu. Dayan said the two leaders still have very good relations, but Trump is now focused on global peace and may not see Netanyahu as the natural partner for that effort.