Israel may be facing one of its biggest strategic setbacks of the war, as Donald Trump pushes ahead with a US-Iran ceasefire framework that appears to leave Benjamin Netanyahu watching from the sidelines. The reported deal is expected to focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing parts of the US blockade, beginning sanctions relief and creating a 60-day negotiation window over Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran is not calling it a finished agreement yet, but the direction is clear: diplomacy is moving forward, and Israel is not controlling the terms.
That matters because Netanyahu has spent months demanding maximum pressure on Iran, wider military freedom and guarantees that Tehran’s nuclear and regional power would be dismantled on Israel’s terms. But Israel is not a formal party to the reported memorandum, and Netanyahu’s own office has had to publicly frame the issue as a promise from Trump rather than an Israeli-led outcome.
For Netanyahu, this is the problem: the deal does not look like victory. It looks like Washington deciding that the war has become too costly, too dangerous and too damaging to keep running on Israel’s timetable. While Israel continues attacks in Lebanon, the US-Iran track is now pushing toward a wider ceasefire framework that could limit Israel’s room to escalate.
Netanyahu wanted the region shaped by Israeli military pressure. Instead, he may now be forced to accept a deal negotiated over his head — one that gives Iran time, space and diplomatic leverage while leaving Israel exposed as the loudest voice outside the room.
Sources checked: Reuters reported the expected US-Iran signing framework and Iran’s caution over timing; Israel’s own PM office says Israel is not party to the memorandum; Al Jazeera reported Israel continuing attacks in Lebanon as the US said the Iran deal could be signed Sunday.