Israeli Officials Believe U.S., Iran Unlikely to Reach Limited Nuclear Deal

The United States and Iran are unlikely to reach a limited agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program, Israeli officials estimated this week following Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi’s trip to Washington last month.

Yisrael Hayom reported that Washington and Tehran are holding indirect talks with regard to a limited deal, which would only partially address the issues concerning Israel on the nuclear program, Tehran’s missile development, and Iranian aggression. An outline for a pact has been presented to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who is yet to approve it.

So far, according to the report, Iran has insisted that it would only be willing to reimplement the nuclear deal in its original 2015 format rather than abide by another format. Given the circumstances in the U.S. and the West in general, however, Washington is not eager to return to the original version.

Israeli officials stressed that America’s power in the Middle East remains as strong as ever, despite the perception of some nations in the region.