'Israel' concerned, says US withholding info about indirect Iran talks
3 Min Read
Israeli media reveals growing Israeli concern over indirect US-Iran talks, as military analyst Alon Ben David says Washington is sidelining "Israel" and sharing only superficial updates.
-
President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Military analyst Alon Ben David voiced growing Israeli concern over the indirect US-Iran talks, stating that Washington is not providing "Israel" with meaningful updates. According to the Channel 13 analyst, the information shared so far has been superficial and general, raising alarms in Tel Aviv.
"We are now facing a real problem. Not only are they not listening to us, they are barely even updating us on what is going on," he said, adding, "We are receiving only generalities."
Ben David criticized the team led by Steve Witkoff, tasked with indirect discussions with Iran, saying it lacks real expertise and ignores critical details that could shape the substance of any final agreement.
Split on Trump’s stance toward "Israel": Poll
In a related context, a recent poll by Channel 13 highlights the divide in public perception regarding Trump’s relations with "Israel".
The results show that 33% believe US President Donald Trump has “turned his back on Israel,” while 36% disagree and 31% remain uncertain.
Talks in Oman continue despite Israeli concerns
Meanwhile, indirect US-Iran nuclear talks hosted in Oman resumed on May 11, marking the fourth round of dialogue between Washington and Tehran. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the session was “difficult but useful for gaining a better understanding of both sides’ positions and finding reasonable and realistic solutions.”
The Jerusalem Post reported that "Israel" fears the negotiations could lead to a deal that fails to meet its security requirements, particularly if it allows Iran greater freedom to expand its regional influence without sufficient restrictions on its nuclear program.
Trump says US close to a nuclear deal with Iran
US President Donald Trump claimed on Thursday that the United States was getting very close to securing a nuclear deal with Iran, with Tehran having potentially close to agreeing to the terms.
During his Gulf tour, Trump said, "We're in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace," according to a shared pool report by AFP.
He added, "We're getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this... There [are] two steps to doing this, there is a very, very nice step and there is the violent step, but I don't want to do it the second way."
Broader Israeli discontent with US regional moves
The unease over Iran talks comes amid wider Israeli discontent with recent US decisions, including the halt of US military operations in Yemen, the signing of arms deals with Arab states, and Washington’s pressure on "Israel" to stop its war on Gaza.
Additional points of friction include the US-brokered agreement with Hamas that led to the release of US-Israeli detainee Alexander Aidan, and the Biden administration’s handling of the Turkish file, which Tel Aviv sees as part of a broader shift in US regional posture.
Read more: Bypassed by Trump, 'Israel' dismayed, silent amid shifting alliances
