Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said the U.S. and Iran are not close to reaching a peace deal.
The statement challenges reports suggesting a landmark agreement to end months of conflict has already been signed. Because Israel views Iranian regional influence as a primary security threat, any shift in U.S. diplomacy toward Tehran directly impacts Israeli strategic planning.
In an exclusive interview, Haskel addressed the status of diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. While some reports presented the discussion as a reaction to a signed initial agreement to end the war, Haskel said the current state of negotiations is different.
"US and Iran aren't 'very close' to a peace deal," Haskel said.
The discrepancy between the reported signing of an agreement and Haskel's comments highlights the volatility of information surrounding these diplomatic tracks. The reports of a signed deal emerged from sources including Times Now, while other reports focused on Haskel's denial of a near-term resolution.
Israel has historically remained skeptical of U.S.-led diplomatic initiatives with Iran, often arguing that such deals fail to sufficiently limit Tehran's nuclear ambitions, or its support for regional proxies. The tension between these diplomatic narratives underscores the difficulty of verifying clandestine negotiations in a high-stakes conflict environment.
“"US and Iran aren't 'very close' to a peace deal."”
The contradiction between reported agreements and the Deputy Foreign Minister's denial suggests a significant gap in intelligence or a deliberate effort to manage public expectations. If no deal exists, the risk of continued military escalation remains high; if a deal is being hidden, Israel's exclusion from the process could further strain the U.S.-Israel alliance.
