Israel has clarified that it is not a party to the emerging memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, following President Donald Trump’s announcement that planned American strikes had been canceled and negotiations would begin.
Senior Israeli officials reportedly said Jerusalem was surprised by Trump’s announcement. According to US reports, American forces were only hours away from launching missiles at Iranian targets when the president declared that understandings had been reached.
The Prime Minister’s Office said Trump spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the developing memorandum. Although Israel is not part of the document, Netanyahu expressed appreciation for Trump’s commitment that any final agreement must include the removal of Iran’s enriched uranium, the dismantling of its enrichment infrastructure, restrictions on missile production and an end to Tehran’s support for terrorist proxies across the region.
Israel’s message is clear: preliminary understandings between Washington and Tehran do not bind Jerusalem. The real test will be whether the final agreement eliminates Iran’s nuclear and missile threats rather than merely delaying them.
