Unnamed Israeli diplomats over the weekend unofficially expressed disappointment over what they called "complete American capitulation" in nuclear talks with Iran in Vienna. Learning the lessons from the Obama administration's clashes with Israel in 2015, the Biden administration is trying to avoid any surprises and is keeping Israel abreast of developments. With that, the two allies remain at considerable odds over Iran and its nuclear ambitions.
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According to information received by Israel, the six world powers – the United States, China, Russia, Great Britain, France and Germany – and Iran are indeed close to signing an agreement stipulating that the sides are returning to the original nuclear deal from 2015, from which former US President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018. However, Iran will not be required to destroy the new advanced centrifuges it has built, rather just disconnect them.
The world powers are also expected to ignore other violations that are difficult to reverse from a technical standpoint. The Americans have also accepted in principle Iran's demand for compensation over the economic damage caused by the Trump administration's decision to withdraw from the deal.
A compensation mechanism still doesn't exist and will likely be indirect once established. However, the fundamental decision to restore the nuclear deal has already been made.
In Israel, officials have fallen in step in terms of the dangers posed by Iran and not coming to terms with a nuclear Islamic republic. Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said on Friday at a meeting in Cyprus with his Greek, UAE and Cypriot counterparts that "Iran and its proxies are fomenting instability in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen."
He continued: "Iran wants to acquire nuclear weapons and continues to develop long-range missiles. These will represent a significant threat to Israel and its neighbors. Israel is determined to defend itself from any attempt to infringe on its sovereignty and harm its citizens. We will do everything it takes to prevent the fanatical and antisemitic regime from acquiring nuclear weapons."
Other Israeli diplomats said the American promise of reaching "a stronger and more long-term nuclear deal" in the future is not feasible.
"Maybe the Americans want to believe they will get a better deal down the road," one of the Israeli officials said, "but the moment they return to the original agreement they lose all leverage with Iran, which has no interest whatsoever in altering it. This promise is either a lie or pretending to be naive."
Intelligence Services Minister Eli Cohen addressed the efforts to revive the nuclear deal, calling them "detached from every intelligence assessment and past experience, based on Iran's systematic deception and lies while striving to acquire a nuclear weapon. Particularly galling is that the countries pursuing the nuclear deal are ignoring Iran's widespread funding of terrorist organizations in several countries in the Middle East, about which can only be said that those who lie down with dogs shouldn't be surprised when they get up with fleas. Israel will remain committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons in every possible way."
The diplomatic-security cabinet, meanwhile, was expected to convene on Sunday amid Iran's announcement that it has begun enriching uranium up to 60% purity in response – three times higher than ever before, though in small quantities.
On Friday, meanwhile, Channel 12 News reported that the Biden administration has demanded that Israel cut down on the "chatter" concerning the alleged attacks against Iran's nuclear facilities.
The unsourced report described the US message as "resolute," using a Hebrew word that can also mean "aggressive," and said that it was relayed through "multiple channels."
The leaks by Israeli officials concerning sabotage operations against Tehran's nuclear program undermine the US effort to revive the nuclear deal, and "embarrass" American diplomats, US officials told their Israeli counterparts, according to the report.
While the extent of the damage from the April 11 sabotage remains unclear, it comes as Iran tries to negotiate with world powers over its tattered nuclear deal.
In Vienna, Iran's negotiator told his country's state TV that the nuclear talks had entered a new phase, adding that Iran had proposed draft agreements that could be a basis for negotiation.
"We think that the talks have reached a stage where parties are able to begin to work on a joint draft," Abbas Araghchi said. "It seems that a new understanding is taking shape, and now there is agreement over final goals."
Enrique Mora, the European Union official who chaired the talks, tweeted that "progress has been made in a far from an easy task. We need now more detailed work."
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US President Joe Biden said on Friday that Iran's plan to enrich uranium to 60% was not helpful.
"We do not support and do not think it's at all helpful that Iran is saying it's going to move to enrich to 60%," Biden told reporters in Washington during a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
"We are, though, nonetheless pleased that Iran has continued to agree to engage in discussions – indirect discussions – with us and with our partners on how we move forward and what is needed to allow us to move back into the [nuclear deal] ... without us making concessions that we are just not willing to make," Biden added.
Erez Lin contributed to this report.
