Israel seeks a comprehensive agreement with Iran that includes halting uranium enrichment, dismantling nuclear infrastructure, limiting missile capabilities, and severing ties with regional militant groups, experts say.
As discussions between the United States and Iran progress, Israeli officials and analysts are increasingly vocal about their expectations for any potential agreement. They emphasize that the terms must effectively prevent Iran from bolstering its military and regional influence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Wednesday that Israel and the United States are in “full coordination” regarding the negotiations. “We share common objectives, and the most important objective is the removal of the enriched material from Iran, all the enriched material, and the dismantling of Iran’s enrichment capabilities,” he said during a security cabinet meeting.
President Donald Trump also expressed optimism about the talks, indicating that a deal might be on the horizon. “We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. However, he cautioned that if negotiations falter, “we’ll have to go a big step further.”
For Israel, the stakes extend beyond merely ending the conflict; the focus is on ensuring that Iran emerges from negotiations in a weakened state rather than in a position to rebuild its military capabilities. Israeli officials are concerned that a weak agreement could allow Tehran to maintain strategic advantages, regain economic stability, and eventually restore its network of armed groups that pose a threat to Israel.
Israeli analysts have identified four critical areas of concern: dismantling Iran’s enrichment infrastructure, imposing restrictions on its ballistic missile program, preventing the rebuilding of Hezbollah and Hamas, and ensuring that Iran does not gain political legitimacy or strategic relief from the negotiations.
On the nuclear front, former Israeli National Security Advisor Yaakov Amidror emphasized that Israel’s stance is firm. “Weaponized uranium must leave Iran,” he stated. “The Iranians must not be allowed to enrich uranium.” Israeli journalist Nadav Eyal echoed this sentiment, noting that Israel seeks a more stringent framework than previous agreements. “Israel wants Iran to stop enrichment for as long as possible and for the enriched material to leave Iran,” he said, advocating for “an arms control agreement that would be extensive and robust.”
Avner Golov, vice president of the Mind Israel think tank, stressed the importance of dismantling Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure entirely. “In the nuclear arena, what matters is the removal of the enriched material, the destruction of the underground facilities, including those still being built, and a prohibition on new sites,” Golov explained. He also cautioned against “sunset clauses” that would allow restrictions to expire after a set period, calling for “unprecedented monitoring and supervision, anywhere, under any conditions and not dependent on Iranian approval.”
Jonathan Ruhe, a fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), underscored the need for the United States and Israel to align their red lines for an acceptable deal. He emphasized the necessity of “shutting down Iran’s nuclear weapons program completely, permanently, and verifiably,” which extends beyond merely transferring highly enriched uranium and includes closing remaining enrichment-related facilities at sites like Natanz and Isfahan.
Alongside nuclear concerns, Israeli analysts highlight the significance of Iran’s ballistic missile program as a pressing security issue. Eyal pointed out that any limitations on this program are crucial, stating, “Israel sees this as no less of an existential threat than the nuclear issue.” Amidror warned that without missile restrictions, the threat could extend beyond Israel to Europe and potentially the United States in the future. “If there are no restrictions on the missile program, then missiles that today can reach half of Europe will, within five to ten years, be able to reach the United States,” he cautioned.
Golov argued that a nuclear-only agreement would enable Iran to rebuild a missile defense system that could protect a future nuclear arsenal. “A deal that focuses only on the nuclear program would allow the Iranians to produce thousands of missiles and create a protective shield around their nuclear program,” he stated. Ruhe reiterated that limiting Iran’s missile capabilities must also include preventing the restoration of production facilities damaged during the conflict.
Another major concern for Israel is the potential for sanctions relief or renewed trade to finance Iran’s regional proxies. Eyal noted that Israel demands the Islamic Republic isolate itself from involvement with groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. “For Israel, it is a material issue that the money injected into Iran will not be used to rebuild the proxies in the region,” he said.
Amidror remarked that Iran’s ability to support these groups has already been diminished due to the disruption of regional supply routes. “The Iranians cannot effectively support the proxies because there is no longer a land bridge from Iran to Syria,” he explained. However, he cautioned that if negotiations create the impression that the United States is backing down, Iran’s regional proxies could emerge stronger despite the ongoing conflict.
Ruhe similarly emphasized the importance of avoiding any agreement that legitimizes the Iranian regime without fundamentally weakening it. “Avoiding anything that legitimates Iran’s regime and abandons the Iranian people” is critical, he stated, including ensuring that the agreement does not provide guarantees against future attacks or compensate Tehran for wartime damages.
Ultimately, Ruhe warned that a “bad deal” for Israel would be any agreement that restricts its future freedom of action against Iran and its proxies. “This is one big reason Iran wants to ensnare the Trump administration in open-ended negotiations that sideline military options and create daylight between Washington and Jerusalem,” he concluded.
According to Fox News, the discussions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and regional activities remain a focal point of concern for Israel as negotiations continue.