Israel’s assessment regarding the state of negotiations between world powers and Iran on its nuclear program has shifted dramatically. Most Israeli analysts believed until now that the prospects of a compromise between the P5+1 and Iran were poor. They assumed that the sides would fail to bridge their differences and hit a stalemate, or — an option of which Israel was less enamored — that the pointless talks would continue for many months to come.
Recently, however, this assessment has changed, as has Israel’s response to negotiations with Iran. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid was the first to hint at a change when he admitted on Jan. 3 that according to Israeli assessments, the involved world powers are apparently heading for a return to the nuclear deal, or at least an interim agreement that would lead toward that goal. Lapid said that Israel had successfully maintained the international community's interest in the Iran nuclear issue, adding that Israel is now focusing its efforts on preventing a lifting of economic sanctions without appropriate Iranian concessions.
