Efforts by the United States to secure an agreement with Iran continue, while Israel expresses deep skepticism over its feasibility.
The Zionist political analyst Ariel Kahane, writing for the Israeli newspaper “Israel Hayom,” reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded a brief visit to Washington on Thursday without concealing significant differences with President Donald Trump regarding the prospects of a deal with Tehran.
Speaking to reporters before boarding his flight, Netanyahu said, “The president believes the Iranians now know exactly whom they are dealing with… As for me, I remain generally doubtful about the value of any agreement with Iran.”
Netanyahu emphasized that any deal must address the Israeli enemy’s most critical concerns, not only the nuclear program but also ballistic missiles and Iran’s regional proxies. He reiterated that Trump remains “our greatest friend.”
Kahane noted that Netanyahu’s comments highlight the divergent views between the Israeli government and the US administration on Iran—and the Middle East more broadly. Even on Gaza, which was discussed during the talks, Americans appear cautiously optimistic, while Israeli leaders remain deeply skeptical.
The analyst added that US officials, including President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, insist any agreement must cover Iran’s missile program and regional influence—conditions that Tehran is highly unlikely to accept.
Kahane concluded that additional efforts to broker a US-Iran deal are expected in the coming weeks. Once these are exhausted, Trump will face a critical decision, but until then, regional tensions—and Israeli anxieties—will persist.