Israel steps up efforts to derail Iran-US understanding
By Delaram Ahmadi
Staff writer
As Iran and the United States move closer to an understanding aimed at ending the war, Israel has not only refrained from halting its attacks on Lebanon but also struck Beirut's southern suburb at a moment when the signing of the arrangement appeared imminent. Tehran has consistently insisted that any cessation of hostilities must encompass all fronts, including Lebanon, while Beirut in particular has long been regarded by Iran as a red line. Previous Israeli attacks on Beirut had already triggered limited military tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv.
Although US president Donald Trump later described the strike as unnecessary and called on Israel to halt its attacks across Lebanon, the incident nevertheless raised questions about Washington's seriousness in restraining its ally. In an interview with Iran Daily, Mansour Barati, an expert on Israeli affairs, argued that the likely terms of an Iran-US understanding are fundamentally at odds with Israel's preferred model, prompting Tel Aviv to seek ways to disrupt the process.
IRAN DAILY: How do you assess the timing of Israel's actions in Beirut as Iran and the United States edge closer to an understanding? Is Israel trying to influence the negotiations and the prospective arrangement, or is it merely pursuing its own objectives in Lebanon?
BARATI: Israel views any understanding or agreement between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran that leaves intact part of Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities in a negative light. During the two recent wars, Israel's leadership sought to inflict the maximum possible damage on Iran's defense infrastructure and nuclear program and even pursued political regime change inside Iran. Although significant damage was inflicted on the country—with some estimates placing the losses at as much as $270 billion—Israel ultimately fell short of achieving its more ambitious objectives.
Now that the contours of the initial understanding between Tehran and Washington have become clearer, and it appears that ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz will come first, followed by two months of negotiations on a nuclear agreement and supplementary arrangements, Tel Aviv has stepped up its efforts to derail the process.
Another highly significant factor is Lebanon's inclusion in the understanding at Iran's insistence. The imposition of a ceasefire in Lebanon from outside the battlefield would amount to a major setback for Israel's leadership, particularly Prime Minister Netanyahu. Israel has traditionally pursued distinct security assumptions regarding its neighboring countries, and on this issue it also differs from the United States on certain aspects of its agenda.
How do you assess the prospects for ending the war in Lebanon if an Iran-US understanding is signed? Could such an arrangement pave the way for de-escalation, or does Israel have objectives in Lebanon that would drive it to continue military operations?
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