Israel hints at military option and sets strict conditions for any US agreement with Iran

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen stressed that any understandings or agreements that the American administration might conclude with Iran would have no actual value from an Israeli perspective. Cohen affirmed in press statements that the option of direct military action against Tehran remains strongly on the table, indicating that Tel Aviv would not hesitate to act unilaterally if it perceived a direct threat to its security.

The Israeli minister considered the current regime in Tehran an obstacle to regional stability, claiming that the demise or change of this regime would benefit all neighboring Islamic countries. These sharp statements come at a sensitive time when the Omani capital, Muscat, is witnessing rounds of diplomatic talks between representatives from Washington and Tehran, which began last Friday without concrete results being disclosed so far.

In a related context, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to travel to Washington next Wednesday, where the Iranian file is at the top of his agenda for his meeting with US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu aims through this visit to exert direct pressure to ensure that no American concessions are made in the ongoing negotiations, and to impose an Israeli vision that guarantees the complete containment of Iranian capabilities.

Media reports indicate that Netanyahu will demand that the US administration shorten the duration of negotiations with the Iranian side as much as possible, to prevent Tehran from using the time to enhance its nuclear capabilities. He will also emphasize that the goal should be the final dismantling of the nuclear program, not just its temporary freezing for a period that might end with changes in political administrations in the White House.

The list of Israeli demands that Netanyahu will carry includes a complete halt to uranium enrichment operations, with the condition that no quantities enriched to more than 4 percent be kept within Iranian territory. Israel also demands the imposition of a strict and comprehensive monitoring system by the International Atomic Energy Agency that ensures access to all suspected facilities without restrictions.

In addition to the nuclear file, Netanyahu seeks to include Iran's ballistic missile program in any potential agreement, by setting clauses that restrict the range of these missiles and prevent them from reaching the occupied territories. The Israeli side believes that ignoring missile capabilities in previous agreements was a strategic mistake that allowed Iran to threaten regional security through its proxies.

Regarding the economic aspect, the Israeli Prime Minister will propose that the lifting of sanctions on Tehran be a gradual and very slow process, linked to its commitment to security provisions. This proposal aims to dry up the sources of funding that might reach Iran's proxies in the region, specifically Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi group in Yemen, who largely depend on Iranian financial support.

Sources concluded that Netanyahu might propose an alternative option in case of diplomatic failure or Iran's rejection of these strict conditions, which is to carry out a joint military operation. This proposal involves directing widespread and coordinated strikes between the United States and Israel targeting a large number of strategic and vital sites deep inside Iran simultaneously.

Any agreement with the current Iranian regime is worthless, and regime change in Tehran is in the interest of all surrounding countries.