The decision to hold the meeting came as President Donald Trump announced that the US and Iran would sign a memorandum of understanding on Sunday to end the war. Senior Israeli officials quoted in the Channel 12 report said the terms of the agreement “threaten Israel's security interests” and that Washington had agreed to Tehran's “core conditions.”
“It's a great deal”
The American website Axios reported that Trump called Netanyahu on Thursday evening and described the potential US-Iran agreement as a “great opportunity.” “It's a great deal and it's time to end this war,” he reportedly said.
Axios reported that Israeli officials are concerned about the content of the US-Iran deal but are avoiding criticizing it publicly. “I understand Israeli skepticism,” a U.S. representative told reporters on Friday.
American officials assured the Israelis that the Iranian reports misinterpreted the content of the agreement. “We believe that once they read the full text of the agreement and understand that essentially Iran must meet its obligations before we provide it with any benefits, they will accept the agreement,” a senior U.S. official said.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that the agreement was based on Trump's “assessment of American interests” and added that Israel reserves the right to act independently against Iran's nuclear program, the Jerusalem Post recalled.
Israel also fears the deal could limit IDF operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
A senior U.S. official noted in an interview with Axios that Iran's continued support for Hezbollah would be a violation of the agreement, as would any shelling by Hezbollah of Israel.
