Israel Bristles at Trump Iran Deal

Israel's leaders are watching President Trump's looming Iran deal with more unease than enthusiasm. With the agreement expected to be signed this week but key details still murky, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urgently seeking a meeting with Trump as Israeli officials warn the accord could ease sanctions and revive Iran's economy without forcing it to surrender enriched uranium, per the Wall Street Journal. While Trump aims to bring the conflict to a close without Iranian regime change, Jerusalem still talks about using military pressure to weaken or possibly topple Tehran and maintaining a "security zone" in Lebanon.

Trump has publicly rebuked Israel's recent strike on Beirut and urged an end to attacks in Lebanon, prompting concern in Israel that the US is now on the hook to restrain its ally. But Netanyahu, facing ongoing strikes from Iran-aligned Hezbollah and a coming election, "has every incentive to continue fighting," per the Washington Post. Indeed, there are fears that financial relief for Iran combined with a prolonged negotiation period will allow the country to continue to pose a threat. After all, it took years to decide key details of the 2015 nuclear accord that Trump later withdrew from. Former President Barack Obama tells ABC News that the new deal is unlikely to be "significantly different," per the Hill.