The Washington Post quoted US officials as saying that US intelligence agencies have warned the administration of President Donald Trump that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may take steps that could undermine efforts to reach a lasting peace agreement with Iran.
The intelligence reports indicated that Israel appears determined to continue its military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which contradicts one of the main clauses of the agreement currently being worked on, which stipulates a halt to attacks on the Lebanese arena.
Internal pressure on Netanyahu
According to the newspaper, these developments come amid increasing political pressure on Netanyahu to continue the military campaign in Lebanon, coinciding with rising tension between his government and Trump administration officials who have publicly warned that any escalation against Hezbollah could threaten the path of the anticipated agreement.
Officials pointed out that a recent intelligence assessment concluded that Netanyahu's political future, with the upcoming elections scheduled for the fall, is linked to his ability to convince his base that he will not withdraw Israeli forces from Lebanon and that he remains ready to escalate the confrontation with Hezbollah when needed.
Disagreements over the anticipated agreement
The assessment noted dissatisfaction within Israel over some provisions of the US-Iranian agreement, as Tel Aviv sees them as potentially weakening the maximum pressure policy on Tehran.
There is also a belief within Israeli circles that the agreement could limit Israel's ability to confront Hezbollah, and that any withdrawal from Lebanon or an end to the conflict could be seen domestically as a political loss for Netanyahu.
In a related context, US President Donald Trump affirmed on Thursday that his country expects to reach a complete ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, after the memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran comes into effect.
In contrast, Switzerland canceled a scheduled meeting between the United States and Iran, while CNN reported that Tehran requested guarantees regarding the cessation of Israeli attacks on Lebanon before resuming negotiations with Washington.
