Israel is concerned that US President Donald Trump will reach an understanding with Iran before the fundamental issues that brought the two countries into conflict are resolved. The information was given to CNN by several Israeli sources.
For the Tel Aviv government, any pact that partially preserves Tehran’s nuclear program and ignores the development of ballistic missiles or support for allied militias in the region would mean that the war would end incompletely.
“The main fear is that Trump will get tired of the negotiations and accept a deal — any deal — with last-minute concessions,” explained an Israeli source. Although Washington has assured that the stock of highly enriched uranium will be a priority, the same source stressed that the exclusion of Iranian ballistic missiles and networks of influence from the talks “is a serious problem”.
During the conflict, Iran fired more than a thousand ballistic missiles at Israel and the Gulf Arab states, in addition to several waves of drones.
A partial agreement that does not neutralize Tehran’s main military capabilities and that alleviates economic pressure on the country could, according to authorities, stabilize the regime and guarantee it an immediate flow of liquidity. These concerns highlight the gap between Trump, who seems unlikely to resume hostilities, and Benjamin Netanyahu, who fears an outcome that falls short of the objectives initially outlined.
In response, a White House spokeswoman stated that Iran “is fully aware that the current reality is unsustainable”, ensuring that Trump “holds all the cards in his hand” in the negotiation process.
“Their ballistic missiles have been destroyed, their production facilities have been dismantled, their navy has been sunk, and their allies are weakened,” Olivia Wales said in a statement sent to CNN. The official added that the country is being “strangled economically by Operation Economic Fury”, losing around $500 million a day due to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Despite efforts, a final understanding remains uncertain. Deep disagreements persist over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the future of the nuclear program, with Israel preparing for the eventuality of fighting resuming. However, the Trump administration continues to focus on diplomacy, proving reluctant to restart a conflict that has caused fuel prices to soar in the United States.
Reduced goals
At the start of the war, Trump suggested that the United States’ objective was to destroy the ballistic missile program, cease support for regional armed groups and close nuclear facilities to prevent the development of the atomic bomb. However, after ten weeks, negotiations appear to focus solely on uranium — specifically enrichment for military purposes — and free circulation in the Strait of Hormuz.
This reduction in priorities is visible in the Israeli prime minister’s public speech. In February, before hostilities began, Netanyahu demanded five conditions for an acceptable agreement. Last week, in a video message addressed to the Security Cabinet, he reduced the list to just one point: “The most important objective is the removal of all enriched material from Iran and the dismantling of enrichment capabilities.” There was no mention of ballistic missiles or support for groups like Hezbollah or Hamas.
A source close to the process explained that Israel has already understood that missiles and militias “are probably off the table”, as they are not included in the first diplomatic drafts. It is for this reason that Netanyahu is prioritizing the uranium issue as the most immediate threat.
The Israeli prime minister relies mainly on direct contact with Trump, as he does not place full trust in envoy Steve Witkoff or Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, who have been leading talks with Iran. At the same time, Netanyahu has sought to obtain information through informal diplomatic channels with Pakistan and Qatar.
“We will be satisfied if there is no agreement”
“There is a real fear that Trump will accept a bad deal. Israel is trying to exert as much influence as possible,” another Israeli official explained to CNN. Still, Netanyahu is acting cautiously so as not to be seen as responsible for pushing Trump back into war.
Israel’s security sector specifically fears an interim agreement that would prolong the ceasefire and ease sanctions without resolving the nuclear issue. Tehran has insisted that a preliminary pact should cover only economic relief and the Strait of Hormuz, postponing the nuclear dossier until later stages.
A senior Tel Aviv official assured CNN that the country remains on high alert in the face of a possible breakdown in negotiations. “We are paying attention. We will be satisfied if there is no agreement, if the siege of Hormuz continues and if Iran suffers some more attacks,” he said, recognizing that the final decision rests with Trump.
However, sources close to the discussions confirm that the United States and Israel maintain coordination of military plans in case diplomacy fails, including attacks on energy infrastructure and operations against the Iranian leadership. Boaz Bismuth, president of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, summarized the situation in a digital publication: “Either there is negotiation, or there is a bang.”
The idea of a “sunset clause” also came up in conversations — a provision that would allow certain restrictions to expire after a certain number of years, as happened in the 2015 agreement signed by Barack Obama. Israel fears that this new model contains elements similar to the previous pact, which both Trump and Netanyahu have harshly criticized in the past.
Israeli sources revealed that the country is pushing for the inclusion of two safeguards: a total ban on enrichment during the clause’s validity period and the dismantling of the underground facilities at Fordow and Pickaxe Mountain, places where Iran is believed to be advancing its nuclear capabilities. For Israel’s military leadership, if the war ends without enriched uranium being removed from Iranian territory, the mission will be considered a failure.
