Following reports of a preliminary understanding between the United States and Iran, Israel’s political arena erupted with sharp criticism. Many Israeli figures described the deal as a strategic disaster for the country and directed their anger toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At a press conference, Netanyahu vowed that Iran would never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons and claimed he had resisted Iranian demands for Israel to withdraw troops from Lebanon.

Opposition leaders and former officials condemned both the deal and Netanyahu’s handling of it, warning that it could hurt his standing ahead of the upcoming autumn elections. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak accused Netanyahu of arrogance and misjudgment, saying Israel had grown weaker while Iran gained strength. Rival Yair Lapid called the agreement one of Israel’s greatest foreign policy failures.

Analysts noted that the deal could complicate Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, as Iran has long sought to include a ceasefire there in any U.S.-Iran agreement. Netanyahu now faces the challenge of balancing relations with Washington while maintaining military pressure in Lebanon.