Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the United States to exercise extreme caution as it moves toward renewed nuclear negotiations with Iran, warning that Tehran has a long and consistent history of violating international agreements and cannot be trusted to honour any deal reached.
Netanyahu made Israel’s position clear on Tuesday during a high-level meeting with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, as diplomatic efforts to revive stalled talks over Iran’s nuclear programme gathered pace. The meeting comes amid growing international concern over Iran’s expanding nuclear activities and rising tensions across the Middle East.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli leader stressed that past experience shows Iran repeatedly breaks its commitments once diplomatic pressure eases.
“He made clear his position that Iran has repeatedly proven that its promises cannot be trusted,” the statement said, underscoring Israel’s longstanding scepticism toward any agreement with the Islamic Republic.
According to two senior Israeli officials familiar with the discussions, the meeting was attended by some of Israel’s most powerful security figures, reflecting the seriousness with which Jerusalem views the issue. Those present included David Barnea, head of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad; Defence Minister Israel Katz; and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir.
The presence of top intelligence and military officials highlights Israel’s deep concern that renewed negotiations could lead to concessions that, in its view, would leave Iran with the capacity to develop nuclear weapons in the future. Israel has consistently argued that Iran’s nuclear programme poses an existential threat and has vowed to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear bomb.
The renewed diplomatic push comes as Iran and the United States prepare to resume indirect negotiations in Turkey, marking the latest attempt to revive or replace previous agreements aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly warned that failure to reach a deal could carry “very severe consequences,” a statement widely interpreted as a reference to possible military or economic escalation.
Iranian officials, meanwhile, have signalled that talks will be difficult, citing deep mistrust of Washington and what they describe as excessive and unrealistic demands. According to Iranian sources, the United States is pressing for three core conditions as the basis for progress: a complete halt to uranium enrichment, strict limits on Iran’s ballistic missile programme, and an end to Iran’s support for regional proxy groups across the Middle East.
These demands closely mirror Israel’s long-standing position on Iran and have repeatedly been rejected by Tehran. Iranian leaders argue that uranium enrichment is a sovereign right under international law, ballistic missiles are essential for national defence, and support for allied groups in the region is a key pillar of Iran’s foreign policy.
“Iran will not negotiate away its sovereignty,” Iranian officials have said in the past when responding to similar proposals.
However, some Iranian sources have suggested that restrictions on ballistic missiles may be an even greater red line for Tehran than limits on uranium enrichment. Iran’s missile programme is viewed by its leadership as a critical deterrent against regional adversaries, particularly Israel and the United States, both of which possess superior air power.
For Israel, these issues are non-negotiable. Netanyahu has repeatedly warned that any agreement that allows Iran to maintain enrichment capabilities or expand its missile arsenal would only delay, not prevent, Tehran’s eventual acquisition of nuclear weapons.
Israeli officials argue that previous agreements, including the 2015 nuclear deal, failed to address Iran’s missile programme and regional activities, while merely postponing key restrictions on enrichment. They say this allowed Iran to strengthen its position economically and militarily while remaining within technical limits.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high as negotiations approach, with the United States significantly increasing its military footprint in the Middle East. The recent deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group and accompanying warships has raised fears of a potential confrontation if diplomacy collapses.
U.S. officials say the military buildup is meant to deter Iran from escalating attacks on U.S. forces or allies in the region. Iran, however, has interpreted the moves as provocative and has warned it will respond forcefully to any aggression.
The broader regional context has further complicated diplomatic efforts. Iran’s recent violent crackdown on protests has drawn widespread condemnation from international human rights groups, which say thousands of people were killed during the unrest. The demonstrations, initially sparked by economic hardship, evolved into broader anti-government protests calling for political change and greater freedoms.
Iranian authorities have acknowledged deaths but dispute the scale cited by rights organisations. They have blamed the unrest on what they describe as armed groups backed by Israel and the United States, accusations both countries deny.
These internal tensions have added another layer of complexity to the nuclear talks, as Western governments face pressure to address human rights concerns while pursuing diplomatic engagement.
For Netanyahu, the current moment reinforces his long-held belief that Iran uses negotiations as a tactic to buy time. Israeli officials argue that Tehran engages in talks to ease sanctions and international pressure, only to resume activities once scrutiny fades.
Israel has not ruled out taking unilateral action if it believes diplomacy is failing. Although Israeli leaders rarely speak openly about military plans, Netanyahu has repeatedly said that Israel “will act to defend itself” if necessary, regardless of international negotiations.
The United States, for its part, faces a delicate balancing act. Washington is seeking to prevent nuclear proliferation and avoid another major conflict in the Middle East, while also reassuring allies such as Israel that their security concerns will not be ignored.
As talks loom in Turkey, expectations remain low. Deep mistrust, sharply opposing red lines and a volatile regional environment suggest that any agreement will be difficult to achieve. Netanyahu’s warning reflects Israel’s determination to influence the process and ensure that, in its view, Iran is not granted diplomatic cover to advance dangerous capabilities.
Whether Washington heeds Israel’s caution or pushes ahead in search of a negotiated settlement may shape not only the future of Iran’s nuclear programme, but also the stability of the wider Middle East in the months ahead.
