The US-Iran agreement to conclude the Middle East war is a significant strategic setback for Israel and underscores its waning influence in Washington,Israelianalysts said.
Although the accord, announced by Pakistan early Monday, remains incomplete and is expected to be finalised within 60 days, its preliminary framework has already raised concern in Israel.
Analysts argue it effectively locks in Iranian gains while deferring the most sensitive issue for Israel: its security.
According to former intelligence officer Danny Citrinowicz, this means the US-Iran deal amounts to nothing less than a “political and security catastrophe for the State of Israel”.
It is also a blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who once hoped to sail into October elections as the victor in campaigns against Hamas, Hezbollah and Tehran — but instead is under fire for failing to attain Israel’s key war aims.
“We knew for quite a long time that it was going to be an agreement that will take into account most of the interests of the Iranians,” said Sima Shine, an analyst with Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS).
“The issues that are important to Israel, such as the nuclear one, are left for some future that we don’t know,” said Shine, also a former Israeli intelligence officer.
The US and Israel launched a joint campaign against Iran on February 28, withNetanyahuhoping to topple the Islamic republic and dismantle its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, seen by him as “existential threats”.
Beyond leaving the nuclear question unresolved, Citrinowicz said the result of the conflict makes it unlikely that any future US president would risk renewed military action against Iran.
This, analysts say, effectively allows Tehran to emerge stronger after more than three months of conflict.
Source: Insider Paper
