Netanyahu Warns US-Iran Accord Sidelines Israel, Leaves War Aims Unachieved

The United States and Iran reached a memorandum of understanding ending the joint military campaign launched in late February, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted with alarm as Israelis said the deal sidelines Israel and leaves its war aims unachieved.

The Christian Science Monitor described a “sense of dread” that the conflict is ending with “none of its aims met,” while CNN reported Netanyahu had been “huddled with his security cabinet in a bunker late Sunday night” after Trump called with news of the accord.

Al-Masry Al-Youm

Netanyahu told reporters he does not know the terms of the US-Iran nuclear deal and said, “With or without an agreement, Iran will never have nuclear weapons,” adding, “Not today and not tomorrow.”

The Guardian reported Netanyahu ruled out any immediate withdrawal from Lebanon and said Israel’s forces would remain there “for as long as necessary,” as US officials sought to reassure Israel that withdrawal from Lebanon was not a condition of the pact.

As the ceasefire deal emerged, Israeli political figures across the spectrum attacked it, with the BBC framing the situation as a “political nightmare” for Netanyahu and presenting opposition pressure inside the Knesset.

The BBC quoted opposition leader Yair Lapid describing the choice as “either a direct and destructive confrontation with our greatest ally, or a submissive surrender of Israeli interests,” while Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners argued the agreement does not bind Israel.

Apa.az

Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote on social media, “Trump's agreement does not bind us,” and Likud lawmaker Ariel Kallner said, “We will do what we need to do. And we expect our friends to understand us,” as CNN reported Netanyahu’s public comments came after other Israeli politicians had already spoken.

Sima Shine, a former Mossad official and Iran specialist, told the BBC that “It's difficult to understand why the Americans accepted it,” arguing the US was allowing Iran to decide what will happen in Lebanon.

The sources portray the stakes as both military and political, with the BBC warning Netanyahu faces a new security dilemma as Washington and Tehran demand Israel cease attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“Iran deal presents political nightmare for Netanyahu The US ceasefire agreement with Iran has presented Israel's prime minister with a political nightmare, smashing the three cornerstones of Benjamin Netanyahu's political career, and leaving him trapped in a new security dilemma”

BBC

The Christian Science Monitor said the US-Iran agreement could “effectively tie Israel’s hands” in responding to Hezbollah’s attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and in Israeli communities near the northern border with Lebanon, while also noting the deal reportedly does not include a demand for Iran to halt production of its ballistic missile arsenal.

The Guardian reported that US officials sought to reassure Israel that withdrawal from Lebanon was not a condition of the pact, and it also described relative calm in southern Lebanon on Monday even as sporadic violence persisted.

In Israel’s election season, Netanyahu said he would run again and intend to win, while the Guardian reported opposition leaders argued the agreement would strengthen Hezbollah and other militant Islamist organisations supported by Tehran.