Israeli officials are alarmed, believing that the Islamic Republic of Iran is merely stringing the Americans along in the negotiations now being conducted in Oman, in the hope that at home the protesters won’t return to the streets, disappointed by Trump’s failure to attack the Islamic Republic, and that Trump will lose interest in the Iranian threat. His attention span is short, and he has so many other balls in the air, including Venezuela, Greenland, the Ukraine-Russia war, the Chinese economic behemoth and its threat to Taipei, the 2016 election ballots, the Epstein revelations, and much more — that he just might put Iran on the back burner if Iran keeps on refusing to deal. More on the Israeli worries about American policy vis-à-vis Iran can be found here: “US-Iran negotiations could leave Israel vulnerable to attack, experts say – analysis,” by Amir Bohbot, Jerusalem Post, February 8, 2026:
Senior defense officials are expressing concern about the ongoing talks between Iran and the United States, amid assessments by Iranian experts that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei does not intend to abandon the nation’s nuclear project.
According to experts, Khamenei views nuclear developments as critical to the regime’s survival and will, at most, agree to temporarily pause the development process. What is more, it is not known where Iran’s 60% enriched uranium is stored.
Additionally, Iran does not intend to give up its arsenal of ballistic missiles, some of which are aimed at Israel.
Thus, defense officials estimate that the entire US-Iran negotiation process is bad for Israel, as it will likely not take Israel’s security concerns into account.
Currently, there are two options. The first, a “safe haven” agreement, would prevent Israel from attacking Iran.
The second, an “open” agreement, would allow Israel to attack Iran in order to remove threats and maintain security interests. This is reminiscent of the agreement between the Houthis and the US – it left the threat open-ended but gave the IDF freedom to act.
The latter option appears to be more advantageous for Israel, accounting for the possibility of a breakdown in US-Iran negotiations leading to US military action in Iran. The IDF is prepared for this possibility, among others.
The IDF is also preparing for a variety of scenarios in which talks break down and Iran uses proxies to harm Israel in a way that would require a military response.
It is unclear what more those proxies — Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis — could do that they are not doing now to hurt Israel. Hamas and Hezbollah are doing their level best, launching attacks on Israel in violation of their respective ceasefire agreements, and every attack by terrorists on Israel is responded to tenfold. These proxies no longer are a major worry. It is Iran’s nuclear program, and even more important, the threat from its ballistic missiles, that concern the IDF.
So far, the Americans have focused only on Iran’s nuclear program, and especially on its 400 kg. of uranium enriched to a level of 60% purity, just below weapons-grade. No mention has apparently been made in Muscat of Iran’s ballistic missiles, or of the terror groups that serve as proxies for the Islamic Republic. And those ballistic missiles are Israel’s most immediate concern; the nuclear program has, thanks to the 12-Day War, been set back by several years. It’s disturbing to Israel that the Americans have not seen fit to raise the more immediate threat of Iran’s ballistic missiles, to Israel and to American bases both in the region and even in Europe.
For the Americans, the chief worry is how, if Iran managed to manufacture a few nuclear weapons, it could pose a real threat both to America and to Europe. That is why Trump is so cavalier about the ballistic missiles and the Iranian proxies, and focused only on ensuring that Iran will not have nuclear weapons. Israel’s military leaders, including the chief of the General Staff, Major General Eyal Zamir, and Brigadier General Omer Tishler, have brought their concerns to the Americans about Washington’s single-minded focus on Iran’s nuclear program, pointing out that the failure to deal with the ballistic missiles would leave Israel vulnerable to attack.
Now Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is coming to see Trump to convey the same message: we need you to negotiate not just an end to Iran’s nuclear program, but at this point even more importantly, an end to its ballistic missile program, and to its support of Hamas and Hezbollah. And then he will no doubt add that “we would rather that Iran, with its regime the weakest it has ever been, can be made to accept your terms, but if not, the IDF is prepared to go it alone, and if necessary, to launch a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s missiles.” That should get Trump’s attention, and he can tell his team in Oman to focus right now on the ballistic missiles. And if Iran refuses to comply with his demands, then with its “massive armada” in the region, the U.S. can proceed with its most fitting response: Bombs Away.
Wellington says
I fear by the day, certainly by the week, that the Trump Administration is letting a golden opportunity slip through its fingers.
Hope I’m wrong here. Yes I do.
And Hell, President Trump, just let Israel do what it must. Please do this, Mr. President. For Israel, for America, for what’s left of Western Civilization, easily the greatest civilization in man’s history when all matters are taken into account. And which civilization is presently fading away quick like—in France, in the UK, in Canada, in The Netherlands and even in America. And if America goes, then all of mankind goes into the deepest dark age in the entire history of mankind.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Netanyahu should just tell Trump that at this point, nothing short of regime change is acceptable to Israel, and that they’re prepared to do it alone if needed. I just wonder whether Trump will be capable of letting Israel take all the credit, as it will be perceived by both Iranians on the streets of Iran, as well as the international community. Conversations about nukes, missile bases, support for proxies and so on – all of that is not worth the ink it’s written on
James Lincoln says
Infidel,
Do you think that there is a possibility that Israel and its IDF/IAF will just preemptively attack Iran – full force – while these senseless and ridiculous “negotiations” are taking place?
Granted, it would make the US look bad, but it’s the Israelis that have the most “skin in the game”…
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I don’t think they’ll do it while those talks are going on, but maybe immediately after, in response to something the islamic regime either does or says
James Lincoln says
Infidel,
Yes, that makes the most sense.
Rob Porter says
Wellington, the Israelis are telling the dosey Trump administration that they will go it alone if the U.S. doesn’t wake up. This is the trouble with the U.S., it is sometimes just an over-inflated bag of hot air. I remember many years ago the American Rugby Team preparing to play against the South African Springboks. Americans told the South Africans, “We’ll whup ya”. – and then lost 32 -3 to the South Africans. Nowadays Trump is. looking iver his shoulder at what Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia want him to do regarding Iran. He is compromised, so to hell with him, Marco Rubio. J.D. Vance and the as useless as a hind tit on a bull, Steve Witkoff. I take one look a Witkoff and want to gag,
Walter Sieruk says
That hoax of those so called US -Iran “negotiations” should worry the government heads of the State of Israel because balderdash “talks” with those deceptive disingenuous and outright lying tyrants of that hostie Islamic tyrannical Islamic regime is just a ploy to stall for time so they can construct and gather the weapons to resupply their jihad stooge terror murder entities ,Hamas and Hezbollah, so that they can kaunch further murderous and destructive Islamic terror attacks in Israel.
Walter Sieruk says
That hoax of those so called US -Iran “negotiations” should worry the government heads of the State of Israel because balderdash “talks” with those deceptive disingenuous and outright lying tyrants of that hostile Islamic tyrannical Islamic regime is just a ploy to stall for time so they can construct and gather the weapons to resupply their jihad stooge terror murder entities ,Hamas and Hezbollah, so that they can launch further murderous and destructive Islamic terror attacks in Israel.
Keys says
Today I have been reading reports and activity from different sources indicating that Trump is becoming skeptical an agreement can be made (Ed Henry on Newsmax reported this about Trump this PM), which I hope is true. Another report from today:
“In recent days, more than 110 C-17 transport aircraft have either arrived in or were en route to the region, according to analysts monitoring military activity.”
https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/us-military-buildup-near-iran-raises-fears-of-possible-strike
Other reports:
+Many IRGC troops have moved and positioned near the coast.
+Several days ago 17 Chinese military transports landed (unloaded what?) in Iran.
+Iran is capable of (and has produced) 1,000 ballistic missiles per month to overwhelm Israeli air defenses.
+A second carrier strike group will soon arrive within striking distance.
I think it is very likely that the Chinese have given Iran “carrier destroyer” weapons and personnel/advisors to use them. This an opportunity to observe how effective their weapons are, and if successful use, or modify them, for a future attack on Taiwan.
I don’t think that Iran will use their ballistic missiles to immediately respond to any attack with an attack on Tel Aviv. Rather, they will direct them to the carriers (and to bases) along with hundreds or thousands of drones, other missiles, and attack boats to overwhelm and sink the carriers. They are itching to do so.
The US has hopefully prepared, or is preparing, for any possibility. Hopefully, no country has given this evil regime tactical nukes.
Rob Porter says
Keys, what you’ve written highlghts is what I’ve said for weeks, that Trump’s 2-day strike on Iran was next to useless. He blew up underground nuclear sites, restricted Israel’s attack on Iran and now we are back to war. – just as I predicted.
abu taleb says
If US really wants to eliminate the nuclear threat from Iran, US can easily achieve it by helping toppling the Iran Islamic regime. But I feel thatTrump just wants to show the world that he is in control of everything, he does not really care about people. So he will betray the Iranian people just like Obama, even worse than Obama because Trump has said he would help the Iranian people as Obama did not say such thing, if I am not mistaken.
OLD GUY says
Negotiate with islam is a total waste of time. I’ll guarantee they will agree to receiving billions of dollars in aid used to build up their military to fight on another day. The Art of the Deal may belong to Pres. Trump, but the Art of Deception belongs to Islam.