"Not a peace deal; another 60 days of ceasefire": Israeli expert weighs in on US-Iran peace talks
By Vishu Adhana, Tel Aviv, June 15
Sagiv Steinberg, CEO of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs spoke about the recent announcement of peace agreement between Tehran and Washington--calling it a temporary arrangement ahead of the upcoming midterm elections in the US.
Steinberg told ANI, "As far as I can see it is not a peace deal, it is another 60 days of ceasefire."
He highlighted that with the agreement between the two parties yet to be published, both sides may differences in claims and one needs to wait till Friday to when the deal is inked.
Referring to the information in the public domain, he said that none of Washington's objectives was met.
"If we take what the Iranians are saying now and the feeling which is coming from Washington about this agreement-- is that nothing was achieved in the goals of the war that the US started. The Iranian people didn't get the freedom, didn't get their help. We remember, President Trump promised them help is on the way. It got even worse. The Iranians can now, if the agreement is true, can now rebuild and rebuild the proxies. The Hezbollah, the Houthis, they can rebuild their gain in Iraq and in Syria. And that's a huge problem," he said.
He highlighted how no substantive solution was arrived regarding the nuclear issue
"There wasn't any solution for the nuclear issue. Nothing was dealt as we can see with this deal. And as far as we can tell, it's a ceasefire for 60 days in order to allow President Trump to get closer to the elections."
He said there is a possibility for West Asia to see a different approach from President Trump's side after the elections.
"I don't think it's a good day for the Middle East. It's a bad day for the Middle East because Iran got everything it wanted. They will get no deal about the nuclear industry. They will get a lot of money in order to revive a proxies and an infrastructure. And I think It won't give the Middle East any stability," he told ANI.
His remarks come after a major diplomatic breakthrough between Washington and Tehran was announced on Sunday, with President Trump saying that the agreement would bring "peace and security" to West Asia and facilitate the reopening of the critical energy chokepoint Strait of Hormuz.
Following the announcement, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed the peace deal and outlined Tehran's conditions for moving forward with negotiations.
"The deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete," US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday on his Truth Social platform. "Ships of the world, start your engines. Let the oil flow!"
According to Iran's state-affiliated Press TV, Gharibabadi said the official signing ceremony would take place on Friday, after which the text of the Memorandum of Understanding would be released publicly. He stated that Iran would enter a proposed 60-day negotiation period for a final agreement only after verifying that the United States had fulfilled commitments related to ending hostilities, lifting the blockade and releasing Iranian assets.
The peace deal is set to be signed on Friday in Switzerland.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, this feels like another short-term patch, not a solution. Iran gets to keep its nuclear program and fund proxies? That's not peace – that's kicking the can down the road. Our diplomats in Tehran must be extra cautious now. 🤨
As an American, I agree with Steinberg. This is clearly a political move by Trump before the midterms. The real issue – Iran's nuclear ambitions – is being ignored. India and the US need to stay aligned on this, but this deal feels weak.
Look, any cessation of hostilities is welcome, but the devil is in the details. If Iran gets a free hand to rebuild Hezbollah and Houthis, that directly impacts India's energy security and our investments in Chabahar. We need clarity, fast. 🤔
I'm cautiously optimistic. Maybe it's just a 60-day pause, but it could lead to more serious talks if both sides show good faith. The article raises valid concerns, but let's wait for the actual text on Friday before judging completely.
This is a classic diplomatic dance – Trump needs a win before elections, Iran needs sanctions relief. India should use this window to strengthen our ties with both the US and Gulf nations. But trusting Iran's promises? Bhai, that's a tough pill to swallow. 😤
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.