Ex-Official Warns Iran Deal Could Aid Tehran
Portrait of a Venetian Senator — Catena (Vincenzo di Biagio), ca. 1525
What Happened
Former Israeli national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat told Maariv that Iran remains under heavy pressure but isn't yet desperate enough to fold. He warned any future US-Iran agreement would still hand Tehran a financial and strategic lifeline, and said Israel must stay ready for a possible direct Iranian attack.
Why It Matters
Ben-Shabbat isn't in office anymore, but his read carries weight as one of the architects of the Abraham Accords. His core argument: a diplomatic win in Washington can still be a strategic loss in Jerusalem, since sanctions relief funds a regime either way. That's the tension sitting under every US-Iran negotiation right now, no matter who's at the table.
What's Next
Ben-Shabbat points to Netanyahu's reported UAE visit as coordination for either outcome — escalation or a deal.