Israeli Prime Minister Welcomes New U.S. Strategy Towards Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the announcement of Washington's new strategy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran by the U.S. President, while the Israeli Minister of Intelligence stated that this development "could very well lead to war with Iran." Donald Trump, on the evening of October 13, stated in a speech at the White House that he does not certify Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal and will end it if it is not amended in cooperation with Congress and European allies. Mr. Trump emphasized that the current form of the JCPOA "keeps the Iranian dictators in power." Additionally, at Trump's directive, the U.S. Treasury Department added the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to its sanctions list on that day. In response to this event, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video from the Prime Minister's office that was immediately broadcast by Israeli media following Trump's statement, congratulated the U.S. President, adding that "President Trump has taken a brave step against Iran's hostility." Netanyahu described Washington's new strategy as "an opportunity for direct confrontation with the Iranian terrorist regime" and stressed that "if the JCPOA does not change, the largest state sponsor of terrorism will acquire a nuclear arsenal in a few years, which will be a blow to our shared future." The Israeli Prime Minister also added that "President Trump has provided the opportunity to change this bad agreement and block Iran's aggression." He emphasized that "Israel welcomes this development and every government and responsible person concerned about global security and peace should support this matter." Simultaneously, Israel Katz, the Minister of Intelligence, announced on a television program on Friday evening, while directly hearing Trump's new strategy towards Iran, that this "significant development" could "completely lead to war." Katz added, "Iran is the new North Korea. We see where issues in the region are heading." He emphasized that Netanyahu's government played a role in determining the new U.S. strategy, stating that "Netanyahu's trip to New York last month to meet with Trump to clarify Israel's position on Iran was the most important meeting of an Israeli leader with a U.S. President in the last 10 years." The Israeli Minister of Intelligence, who is also a member of the ruling Likud party, told Israeli television that "tonight [after the announcement of the new U.S. strategy], Khamenei, Rouhani, and Qassem Soleimani will not sleep soundly." Benjamin Netanyahu and his government have been staunch opponents of the JCPOA since Iran and six world powers reached the nuclear agreement in July 2015. Last month, Netanyahu met with Trump for the third time since the change of government in the U.S. to clarify his position on Iran. Netanyahu himself, in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, emphasized the "cancellation or complete amendment" of the JCPOA and severely attacked the Iranian regime and its rulers, stating that "the JCPOA turns Iran into another North Korea." Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported in recent days that many Israeli security experts, mostly former officials of Israeli security and intelligence agencies, did not align with Netanyahu's insistence on Trump to cancel the JCPOA. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a conference in Tehran on Friday evening, emphasized that the Iranian nation was not "surprised" by the change in U.S. strategy, stating that the Islamic Republic will adhere to the JCPOA as long as its interests require and will continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. He also added that "if our counterparts violate the JCPOA, we will not hesitate for a moment in defending our interests." In this context, European leaders have warned about the consequences of actions detrimental to the nuclear agreement with Iran: "If necessary, we will end our commitments under the JCPOA."