Muscat Negotiations Between Tehran and Washington Begin: Israel Awaits and Warns Against Partial Agreement

Israel is closely monitoring the negotiations between Iran and the United States, which began in Oman today, Friday, and which Tel Aviv is trying to complicate and thwart. Sources reported that the Muscat negotiations are starting indirectly, noting that the Iranian delegation does not object to moving to direct negotiations if it perceives progress in the talks.

In Israel, the security and political cabinet met yesterday, Thursday, to discuss the negotiations. During the meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Tel Aviv would respond with 'unprecedented force' to any potential Iranian attack in light of Iran's warnings of a 'regional war' if it were targeted by the United States. Netanyahu clarified, according to Hebrew reports, that he does not yet know President Donald Trump's final decision regarding the negotiations, emphasizing that bilateral coordination is at its highest levels.

Sources in occupied Jerusalem reported that Israel has been promoting the failure of the negotiations even before they began, as it is strenuously trying to convince Washington that Tehran is not trustworthy and cannot fulfill its commitments, describing the negotiation process as 'absurd.' Israeli fear is that the path will lead to an agreement limited to the nuclear file only, without addressing the long-range missiles that Tel Aviv sees as an existential threat.

Media outlets quoted politicians and security sources as estimating that the negotiations are likely to fail, given the belief that Iran is not serious, which was conveyed to US envoy Steve Witkoff during his meeting with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.

Reports stated that Witkoff informed the Israeli side that the United States understands Tel Aviv's red lines, especially regarding the missile file and support for proxies in the region. Both views agree on the necessity for Iran to abandon its enriched uranium stockpile and halt future enrichment.

Israel had announced raising its alert level in anticipation of an Iranian missile attack in response to any potential American action. This coincided with escalating pressure on Tehran, while the Iranian army warned that the scope of any confrontation would include the entire region and American bases, following Trump's threats of military option.

US-Israeli coordination is at its highest levels, and we will respond with unprecedented force to any potential Iranian attack.