Progress has been made in recent efforts to formulate a memorandum of understanding and principles between the US and Iran, though significant gaps remain, three regional sources told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
According to the sources, the talks have focused on outlining a framework that could enable continued negotiations while temporarily reducing tensions between Tehran and Washington. However, Israeli officials assess that even if understandings are reached at the diplomatic level, Iran’s supreme leadership is unlikely to approve concessions.
The prevailing assessment of Israeli officials is that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is expected to reject any compromise perceived as limiting Iran’s strategic nuclear capabilities or regional influence.
At the same time, military coordination between Israel and the United States has continued intensively amid the possibility that US President Donald Trump could ultimately order military action against Iran if diplomatic efforts collapse.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held another conversation with Trump on Tuesday, according to two officials familiar with the matter. Netanyahu also continued those discussions on Wednesday with the defense echelon.
Israel believes strikes on Iran are 'if' not a 'when'
Parallel discussions are also continuing between senior IDF officials, including Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, and the US Central Command, including Adm. Brad Cooper, regarding operational preparedness and planning if the US president gives the “green light.”
Israeli officials stressed that despite diplomatic contacts, the military option “remains on the table” for Trump. “We still think that the question regarding a strike is ‘if’ and not ‘when,’ but Trump holds the cards,” one official said.