Israeli officials have expressed serious reservations about the latest push for a diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran, claiming that President Donald Trump and his advisers are pursuing an agreement “at any cost,” according to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 .
A senior Israeli official, speaking to Channel 12, described the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s approach to the negotiations, saying: “The distance between peace and war with Trump is the distance between the letters T, R and U on the keyboard” . The remark underscores the growing unease in Jerusalem over what officials perceive as an unpredictable U.S. strategy.
According to the Israeli media report, Israel is not being directly briefed by Washington on developments in the talks with Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz and is instead obtaining most information through indirect channels . This has left Israeli leaders largely sidelined from a process that directly affects their core security interests .
Israeli officials reportedly mocked the renewed diplomatic efforts, saying any agreement could regulate operations in the strategic waterway and allow Washington and Tehran to return to a previous understanding. “Today is ‘World Peace Day.’ The diplomatic track has returned with full force. Trump wants a deal, his advisers want a deal at any cost — and the Iranians understand this,” officials were quoted as saying .
The comments come as Iran and Oman have reportedly made progress towards a possible agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route through which approximately a fifth of the world’s oil and gas flowed before the conflict began . Under the proposed arrangement, vessels would enter the Persian Gulf through a route controlled by Iran and exit via a route managed by Oman, with the two countries potentially charging fees for security and maritime services, according to regional officials cited by The Associated Press .
Despite the diplomatic activity, Israeli officials said the country remains on high alert, with the Israel Defense Forces maintaining close coordination with the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). “Right now, the diplomatic path appears to be the direction, but we’ll see what happens,” the official said .
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said Washington could reach an agreement with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “today or tomorrow,” adding that there was “a chance we may have a deal” soon .
From Israel’s perspective, however, the emerging agreement is viewed with deep concern. Officials fear the deal leaves Iran’s missile program intact, does not require the dismantling of its network of proxy forces across the Middle East, and fails to address the long-term future of the Iranian regime . One Israeli official was quoted as saying bluntly: “Trump screwed us. We’re in trouble. We’re no longer in the loop and can’t really influence anything” .
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