Iran war's end disappoints Israel; focus must shift to US-Israel deal

As the war with Iran draws to a close, a palpable sense of disappointment permeates Jerusalem. The Iranian regime, though weakened and its nuclear program set back, has survived. This outcome leaves many Israelis concerned that Tehran will eventually regain the ability to enrich uranium on an industrial scale, failing to achieve the war's most critical objective: the toppling of the ayatollahs.

Despite the damage inflicted on Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure, the fundamental threat to Israel's existence persists. The author contends that while the war may not have achieved its ultimate goal, it did foster unprecedented operational cooperation between Israel and the United States and inflicted significant damage on Iran's capabilities. However, the emerging agreement is seen as falling short of fundamentally altering the reality of the Iranian threat.

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The war with Iran is coming to an end, and the sense of disappointment in Jerusalem could hardly be greater.

This disappointment has led to what the author describes as "ridiculously immature" reactions from some Israelis, including labeling President Trump a "traitor." The piece urges a shift in perspective, arguing that dwelling on what was not achieved is less productive than capitalizing on the strategic opportunities presented by the new reality. The focus, it suggests, should move from the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to negotiating a new US-Israel MoU, emphasizing that international relations, particularly with the US, are based on mutual interests, not solely on one nation's desires.

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We can disagree with the deal and think it’s deeply flawed – I definitely do – but Trump’s decision was never about Israel’s interests alone. It was about America’s interests.