In an interview with Foreign Policy, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Israel could accept a revival of a US-negotiated Iran nuclear deal if there are backup plans that involve more sanctions and possible military actions.
“The current US approach of putting the Iran nuclear program back in a box, I’d accept that,” Gantz said when asked about the Biden administration’s Iran strategy. The comment signals a possible shift in Israel’s stance on the Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, although Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has repeatedly said he is opposed to a revival of the agreement.
Gantz said Israel wants to see a “viable US-led plan B” that includes more economic pressure if the talks fail, although Iran is already under an enormous amount of US sanctions. “Israel has no ability to lead a real plan B, we can’t put together an international economic sanctions regime. This has to be led by the US,” he said.
Gantz also hinted at a possible “plan C” being considered by Israel that involves military action. “If push comes to shove, we’ll get there,” he said of attacking Iran. “We’re not America, but we have our capabilities.”
Israel frequently takes covert action against Iran, and these attacks have caused Tehran to increase uranium enrichment. In April, when Iran and the US started indirect JCPOA negotiations, Israel carried out an attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility. In response, Iran began to enrich some uranium at 60 percent, which Israel now points to as evidence Tehran is racing towards a bomb when that is not the case.
Iran is clearly using the 60 percent enrichment as leverage over Washington. The US does not openly support Israel’s covert attacks inside Iran, but by not condemning them, Washington tacitly endorses the reckless provocations.
The JCPOA talks have been stalled since June 20th. The negotiations dragged out due to the Biden administration’s refusal to lift all Trump-era sanctions and were further delayed by Iran’s presidential election. The new Raisi government said it is ready to resume the JCPOA talks in the “near future,” but it’s not clear when they might start.
I will believe it when i see it. They will have to dragged kicking and screaming to any peace deal. Name somebody who could that.
Israel has no say in all of this. If they want a say, then they should be bound by IAEA rules nad have regular inspections.
This. Israel’s nuclear triad is a threat to the entire Eastern Hemisphere. The Samson Option looms over the area.
29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple,and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. 30 Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.
~ Judges 16
Well indeed, those are Israel’s choices: start a world war, or accept the diplomacy of nation-states and the results of negotiations they have no part of. Thanks benny
https://eng.globalaffairs.ru/articles/farewell-to-hegemony/
Farewell to Hegemony.
“Plan D” is reserved by Iran for Israel Destruction…!
They’re fine with the JCPOA as long as the US doesn’t hold up it’s end of the bargain… And there is no reason to believe we will.
Israel will allow Washington to rejoin the JCOPA? That is mighty gracious of them.
There is a definite reason for US opening up to
the idea of rejoining JCPOA. Because it was slipping into irrelevance.
For as long as US believed that something was to be gained by dragging out the process — dragging would have continued,
One of the consequences of broken Agreement was the reluctance of Shanghai Cooperation Organization to proceed with Iran’s full membership.
The unsettled nature of relationship — before, during and after JCPOA lifespan, clarified many aspects of Iranian internal politics, and its economic orientation. It all came to its logical end.
With US exit from Afghanistan — pieces fell in place. SOS promoted Iran to full membership. In other words, JCPOA became irrelevant,
With that unexpected move — US became irrelevant. Therefore, Biden decided to bring US back into relevance.
Naturally, should US choose it, Iran will come happily, others like Russia will encourage it. All the optics will be right.
Israel knows it — from its perspective, they have not given US a permission to normalize relations with Iran, and talk is cheep. Iran is fully aware of the process — and will take any positive change in US behavior. But not hoping — or needing one.
World has changed. On September 17, there will be back to back meetings of two organizations. Russia-led CSTO, a defense treaty with most Central Asian countries, and a gathering of foreign ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
There has been a massive change in strengthening of both. CSTO showed strength in Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict by not violating UN resolution on Azeri territories occupied by Armenia. They demonstrated adherence to international law, not acting as a lawless block.
SCO has received two new members: Saudi Arabia and Egypt. This in reality ends any Saudi-Iranian conflict. Unless the two of them stage a show to confuse and diffuse. After all — this is Middle East.
Naturally, losing Saudi Arabia as Iran’s enemy is a real blow to Israel. Now that it is ensconced in UAE, right across the Straits of Hormuz border with Iran — temptation is great, but so are the risks.