Israel's interests compromised: Envoy on deal leaving out Iran ballistic missiles
Israel's envoy to India, Reuven Azar, in an exclusive interview with India Today, picked holes in the US's interim peace deal with Iran. Azar said Israel's security concerns had not been adequately addressed, especially concerning Lebanon and Iran's ballistic missiles.
Israel's envoy to India, Reuven Azar, categorically asserted on Thursday that Tel Aviv's interests have been compromised as key concerns, including Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for regional proxies, were not addressed in the US-Iran peace deal. In an exclusive interview with India Today, Azar warned that such unresolved security concerns could be a recipe for future confrontation with Iran.
"Israel's interests have been compromised when it comes to ballistic missiles. The challenge for Israel remains the ballistic missile issue and Iran's support for proxies," Azar said, referring to outfits like Hezbollah and Hamas that are believed to receive funding and weapons from Tehran. "We have concerns on the nuclear issue as well," he further said.
ISRAELI ENVOY ON US-IRAN DEAL, LEBANON
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 14-point agreement aimed at stopping the conflict that engulfed the whole of the Middle East and triggered a global energy crisis.
Interestingly, the agreement doesn't address Iran's ballistic missile program - an issue that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said was a priority at the start of the war. In fact, Trump went as far as to say that he would not pressure Iran to abandon its ballistic missile program.
The agreement now paves the way for a 60-day negotiation period focused on Iran's nuclear program and its enriched uranium.
What has rankled Israel is the inclusion of Lebanon, a key Iranian demand, in the deal. The agreement restrains Israel from conducting military operations in the country.
The Israeli envoy, however, underlined that Israel would maintain its presence in southern Lebanon, arguing that its security concerns had not been adequately addressed.
"Israel will stay in South Lebanon. Israel's interests have not been protected. We will defend ourselves if attacked by Hezbollah. Will not renounce the right to self-defence," Azar said.
The brazen remarks by Azar indicate that Israel would not give up on its troop deployment in southern Lebanon, where it has pledged to take out Hezbollah.
Earlier this week, Trump expressed his frustration with Israel's military campaign in Lebanon and went so far as to assert that Syria would do a better job in fighting Hezbollah. Trump also underscored that "there would be no Israel" without the US.
'DEFEATED IRAN MILITARILY'
However, the Israeli envoy stressed that Israel was much safer after the military campaign, which saw its forces eliminate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and several top Iranian military leaders.
"We have defeated Iran militarily. The damage is worth more than a trillion dollars. We have also managed to remove the existential threats to our country," Azar said.
The Israeli envoy, however, denied suggestions that Trump had thrown Netanyahu under the bus as Israel failed to accomplish many of its objectives stated at the start of the Iran war.
Azar stressed that Trump had done more for Israel than previous US presidents, citing recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. "The US and Israel share the same goal that Iran cannot effectively threaten other countries with annihilation," Azar said.
At the same time, he sent a message to Trump, saying Israel would not surrender national security interests, even while differences exist with the US.
He also said that Israel intended to invest over $100 billion in security and defence technology to protect itself from future Iranian threats. "Everybody understands now how threatening and unreliable Iran is," Azar said.
Israel's envoy to India, Reuven Azar, categorically asserted on Thursday that Tel Aviv's interests have been compromised as key concerns, including Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for regional proxies, were not addressed in the US-Iran peace deal. In an exclusive interview with India Today, Azar warned that such unresolved security concerns could be a recipe for future confrontation with Iran.
"Israel's interests have been compromised when it comes to ballistic missiles. The challenge for Israel remains the ballistic missile issue and Iran's support for proxies," Azar said, referring to outfits like Hezbollah and Hamas that are believed to receive funding and weapons from Tehran. "We have concerns on the nuclear issue as well," he further said.
ISRAELI ENVOY ON US-IRAN DEAL, LEBANON
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 14-point agreement aimed at stopping the conflict that engulfed the whole of the Middle East and triggered a global energy crisis.
Interestingly, the agreement doesn't address Iran's ballistic missile program - an issue that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said was a priority at the start of the war. In fact, Trump went as far as to say that he would not pressure Iran to abandon its ballistic missile program.
The agreement now paves the way for a 60-day negotiation period focused on Iran's nuclear program and its enriched uranium.
What has rankled Israel is the inclusion of Lebanon, a key Iranian demand, in the deal. The agreement restrains Israel from conducting military operations in the country.
The Israeli envoy, however, underlined that Israel would maintain its presence in southern Lebanon, arguing that its security concerns had not been adequately addressed.
"Israel will stay in South Lebanon. Israel's interests have not been protected. We will defend ourselves if attacked by Hezbollah. Will not renounce the right to self-defence," Azar said.
The brazen remarks by Azar indicate that Israel would not give up on its troop deployment in southern Lebanon, where it has pledged to take out Hezbollah.
Earlier this week, Trump expressed his frustration with Israel's military campaign in Lebanon and went so far as to assert that Syria would do a better job in fighting Hezbollah. Trump also underscored that "there would be no Israel" without the US.
'DEFEATED IRAN MILITARILY'
However, the Israeli envoy stressed that Israel was much safer after the military campaign, which saw its forces eliminate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and several top Iranian military leaders.
"We have defeated Iran militarily. The damage is worth more than a trillion dollars. We have also managed to remove the existential threats to our country," Azar said.
The Israeli envoy, however, denied suggestions that Trump had thrown Netanyahu under the bus as Israel failed to accomplish many of its objectives stated at the start of the Iran war.
Azar stressed that Trump had done more for Israel than previous US presidents, citing recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. "The US and Israel share the same goal that Iran cannot effectively threaten other countries with annihilation," Azar said.
At the same time, he sent a message to Trump, saying Israel would not surrender national security interests, even while differences exist with the US.
He also said that Israel intended to invest over $100 billion in security and defence technology to protect itself from future Iranian threats. "Everybody understands now how threatening and unreliable Iran is," Azar said.
