Is Israel losing ground in the Iran conflict?

From being an equal partner of the US, Israel has now become a "subcontractor." From being in the "cockpit" to help control the journey, Israel has been relegated to the position of "economy class passenger."

According to Reuters , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said in private talks that Israel currently has very little ability to influence US President Donald Trump's decision-making process on the Iran issue. This has led Netanyahu to express serious concerns about the agreement between the US and Iran.

Netanyahu's unusual silence

On May 23, Trump announced new progress in negotiations with Iran. But after a third private conversation with Trump within a week, it wasn't until May 24 that Netanyahu confirmed that the US and Israel had discussed ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran.

According to analysts, Netanyahu's silence, which lasted nearly a day after Trump's optimistic statement, is not a sign that Israel is satisfied with the current progress.

Netanyahu is under considerable pressure ahead of what is predicted to be a very tough election for him. Photo: Reuters .

Experts believe the prolonged silence reflects insecurity and concern within Israel that the agreement between the US and Iran could prevent Israel from achieving two key objectives: ending Iran's nuclear program and curbing its missile capabilities.

"Observers will not see much enthusiasm from Israeli officials for this agreement," said Michael Herzog, former Israeli ambassador to the United States from 2021-2025.

Netanyahu's concerns

When the US and Israeli military campaign against Iran began on February 28, Netanyahu declared that Israel wanted to create major upheaval in Iran, eliminate Tehran's nuclear and missile capabilities, and weaken Iran's ability to expand its influence through armed forces in the region.

However, the goals of the US and Israel are increasingly diverging, and Israel has yet to achieve any of its stated objectives.

The US is currently focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while also being prepared to leave other issues for discussion in subsequent rounds of negotiations.

The goals of the US and Israel in the Iran conflict are increasingly diverging. Photo: Reuters .

"The fact that the U.S. is willing to put the nuclear issue aside for later discussion does not mean that the U.S. and Iran will definitely reach a unified solution on this issue," said Assaf Orion, a former Israeli brigadier general.

Mr. Orion also emphasized that the current negotiating sequence shows that "it is clear the U.S. does not want to escalate" and "this is not a positive sign for the U.S. in the next phase of negotiations."

The current agreement between the US and Iran appears to contain no provisions addressing restrictions on Iran's missile program. This further fuels Israel's concerns that the missile issue remains unresolved.

Furthermore, Israel is concerned about the possibility of the US lifting economic sanctions against Iran. According to Israeli officials, this could allow Tehran to collect billions of dollars to rearm and support allied forces in the region.

Israel is also concerned that the agreement between the US and Iran will severely restrict its military actions.

In reality, Israel's freedom of attack against Hezbollah has been curtailed under pressure from the United States.

"One of Israel's concerns right now is that the agreement between the US and Iran will not limit Tehran to supporting allied forces, but will restrict Israel from engaging in combat with those forces," Herzog said.

From peer-to-peer partner to "subcontractor"

Once an equal partner with the US in the Iran conflict, Israel is now sidelined from negotiations. This is a major blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Prior to launching the attack on Iran on February 28, Netanyahu appeared in secret meetings in the US with President Trump to discuss strategy, playing a leading role in the discussions. Netanyahu then predicted that the US and Israeli campaign would lead to major upheaval in Iran.

A few weeks later, Netanyahu's optimistic assessments did not materialize, and the situation changed significantly. According to two Israeli defense officials, the Trump administration immediately excluded Israel from the ceasefire negotiations between Washington and Tehran, to the point that Israeli leaders were almost completely uninformed.

Iran is in a winning position. Photo: New York Times.

Being relegated from the "cockpit" to the position of "economy class passenger" has significant consequences for Netanyahu, as he faces a tough election this year.

According to US officials, Trump viewed the Israeli Prime Minister as someone who needed to be restrained during peace negotiations. As a result, Israel's role was gradually downgraded from an "equal partner" to that of a "subcontractor" in the Iran issue.

Some Israeli officials argue that being sidelined is unacceptable, given that Israel is prepared to undertake the most controversial tasks in warfare, including assassinating the leaders of a sovereign nation. This is something the U.S. is unwilling to do.

For Netanyahu, the US move also forced him to constantly adjust his message to align with Trump's changing policies.

From emphasizing the objectives of the Iran conflict, by March 12th, Netanyahu had to shift to emphasizing the importance of the alliance with the United States.

According to Netanyahu, what gives Israel strength in the eyes of its main rivals is its alliance with Trump, "an alliance unlike any other."

For years, Netanyahu cultivated an image among Israeli voters as someone who wielded considerable influence over Trump. Will that image remain intact, and will it help Netanyahu win the election? The answer will be revealed in less than five months.

Source: https://znews.vn/israel-that-the-trong-chien-su-iran-post1654562.html