Middle Israel: Trump’s Iran deal leaves Netanyahu politically exposed - opinion

The recent US deal with Iran, brokered by President Donald Trump, has drawn sharp criticism, with many viewing it as a betrayal of allies and a dangerous appeasement of the Iranian regime. The agreement, though not fully unveiled, is seen as leaving the "jihadist Iranian regime intact, emboldened and brazen," while granting it renewed legitimacy.

“

First, it leaves the jihadist Iranian regime intact, emboldened and brazen, and grants it redoubled legitimacy. Second, it ignores the Iranian missile industry. Third, it allows Iran to continue nurturing its proxies. Fourth, it accepts, and prizes, Iran’s maritime bullying. Fifth, it funnels billions to the Revolutionary Guards’ pockets. And above all, through a vague promise signed on ice, the deal keeps Iran’s atomic plot alive.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a key ally, is described as being "politically exposed" by the deal. Critics from across the political spectrum in Israel, from Yair Golan to Itamar Ben-Gvir, reportedly agree that "the deal stinks." The core objections include the deal's failure to address Iran's missile industry, its continued support for Iranian proxies, and its acceptance of Iran's "maritime bullying."

“

The gullibility to which all this adds up is second only to Neville Chamberlain’s.

Furthermore, the agreement is accused of funneling billions to the Revolutionary Guards and, most critically, keeping Iran's "atomic plot alive" through a "vague promise signed on ice." This is compared to Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of Nazi Germany, with a particular focus on Iran's nuclear ambitions. The article points out that Iran's "formal position" has always been to "never have a nuclear weapon," a claim that sober observers, especially after North Korea's past violations, never believed.

“

Trump’s boasting that Iran “agreed to never have a nuclear weapon” has been Tehran’s formal position all along. Sober people never believed them, especially after North Korea’s violation of its promise in 2012 to suspend its own nuclear program in return for Western aid.

The article questions Trump's apparent shift in perspective, noting his previous cancellation of the Obama-era deal and his rhetoric about Iran's "mad" leaders. It suggests that Trump's current stance, claiming Iran's leaders are now "rational," is "pitiful." The author posits that Iran's negotiators are rational in their assessment of Trump, believing he will not stand his ground due to his perceived lack of commitment to core values, focusing instead on self-aggrandizement.

“

Now there is a new Trump, one who claims there is a new, trustworthy Iran. That’s as pitiful as his bewildering statement that Iran’s leaders are now “rational.” In fact, whether in their aims, motivations, or tactics, Iran’s leaders are mad.