PM Bennett: Israel Not Opposed to 'Good' Iran Nuclear Deal - December 2021

Bennett's Statement

On December 28, 2021, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made headlines with a nuanced position on the Iran nuclear negotiations, stating that Israel is not opposed to a "good" nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. However, he expressed deep skepticism that such an outcome would emerge from the ongoing negotiations in Vienna.

Context: Vienna Talks Resume

Bennett's comments came one day after negotiators from Iran and five world powers (the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and China) resumed talks in Vienna aimed at restoring the tattered 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The State of Negotiations

The talks had been stalled for months, with Iran taking an increasingly hardline stance:

Tehran suggested that everything discussed in previous rounds could be renegotiated
Iran demanded sanctions relief even as it ramped up its nuclear program
Iranian officials insisted on guarantees that the U.S. would not withdraw again

Bennett's Position

In an interview with Israeli Army Radio, Bennett outlined Israel's stance:

On a Potential Deal

"At the end of the day, of course there can be a good deal. Is that, at the moment, under the current dynamic, expected to happen? No, because a much harder stance is needed."

This marked a notable shift in tone from the previous Netanyahu government, which had vocally opposed the JCPOA and lobbied heavily against it, including a controversial 2015 address to the U.S. Congress.

Israel's Red Lines

Bennett emphasized several key points:

Military Option Preserved: "Israel will always maintain its right to act and will defend itself by itself"
Not Bound by Any Accord: Israel reserved the right to act independently regardless of any agreement reached
Need for Tougher Stance: Current negotiations we're insufficiently firm with Iran

Denying "No Surprises" Policy

Bennett explicitly denied claims by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the current government had agreed to a "no surprises" policy with Washington:

"Israel will always maintain its right to act and will defend itself by itself"

This was a direct rebuttal to Netanyahu's accusations that Bennett had limited Israel's military freedom of action regarding Iran.

Israel's Diplomatic Campaign

While not a party to the Vienna talks, Israel engaged in an intensive diplomatic effort on the sidelines:

Bennett's Objectives

Urge negotiators to take a firmer line against Iran
Pressure allies to impose stricter restrictions on Iran's nuclear program
Address concerns beyond the nuclear file, including:
- Iran's long-range missile program
- Support for hostile proxies along Israel's borders (Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad)

Diplomatic Engagements

In December 2021, Bennett undertook several significant diplomatic initiatives:

Historic UAE Visit: Bennett became the first Israeli prime minister to visit the United Arab Emirates, meeting with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed to discuss the Iranian threat and deepen ties under the Abraham Accords
Meetings with European Leaders: Efforts to coordinate positions with European partners involved in the Vienna talks

The Biden Administration's Approach

The Bennett government's position reflected the complexities of Israel-U.S. relations under the Biden administration:

Differences from Trump Era

President Biden had made returning to the JCPOA a foreign policy priority
The U.S. sought to reverse the Trump administration's 2018 withdrawal from the deal
Israel worried that eagerness to secure a deal might lead to concessions

Coordination Concerns

Netanyahu's accusation of a "no surprises" policy touched on a sensitive issue:

Israel traditionally seeks to maintain operational ambiguity regarding potential strikes
Close coordination with Washington could limit Israel's freedom of action
Bennett insisted Israel would act independently if necessary

Regional Dynamics

The Abraham Accords

The Bennett government's approach to Iran was shaped by Israel's new relationships with Arab states:

UAE: Shared concerns about Iranian expansionism, though Abu Dhabi also sought to maintain dialogue with Tehran
Bahrain: Firmly aligned with Israel against Iranian threats
Morocco and Sudan: Part of the broader regional alignment against Iran

Proxy Threats

Israel's concerns extended beyond Iran's nuclear program to its regional activities:

Hezbollah in Lebanon: Armed with an estimated 150,000 rockets pointed at Israel
Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza: Received funding, weapons, and training from Iran
Syria: Iranian military presence near Israel's northern border

European Perspectives

European negotiators expressed growing urgency about the talks:

"Weeks, not months": European officials warned that time was running out to salvage the deal
Iran's accelerating nuclear program raised concerns about breakout time
The risk of military confrontation increased as diplomatic options narrowed

Assessment

Bennett's December 2021 statement represented a carefully calibrated position:

Tactical Flexibility

By not outright opposing a deal, Bennett:

Avoided public confrontation with the Biden administration
Maintained influence with European partners
Preserved Israel's options

Strategic Concerns

His skepticism reflected genuine Israeli concerns:

The 2015 deal had not addressed Iran's missile program or regional aggression
Iran's compliance had been questionable even before the U.S. withdrawal
Sanctions relief could provide Iran with billions to fund its proxies

Military Option

Most importantly, Bennett's insistence on Israel's right to act independently signaled that:

Israel viewed a military strike as a viable option if diplomacy failed
Jerusalem would not be constrained by any international agreement
The threat of Israeli action was itself a tool to pressure Iran

Outcome

The Vienna talks would continue for months without reaching an agreement. By late 2022, the Biden administration acknowledged that restoring the JCPOA was no longer its focus, as Iran's nuclear advances and brutal crackdown on protests made diplomatic engagement politically untenable.