Israeli official said to believe Netanyahu will help shape deal with Iran

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been updated over the past 24 hours on ongoing contacts between the United States and Iran, Channel 12 reports, as Israeli officials assess that Tehran’s political leadership may be open to a deal.

According to the news outlet, Israel believes US President Donald Trump is seeking to avoid a broader energy war, but officials in Jerusalem do not expect to be blindsided by any agreement. Israeli officials assess that, if a deal is reached, it would presumably align with Israel’s core war objectives, with one source saying that Trump “remembers who was with him in battle.”

Channel 12 reports that Israel is now working to ensure that the terms of a potential agreement will meet its demands, prioritizing an end to Iran’s nuclear program and strict limits on uranium enrichment. Regime change, the outlet says, is viewed as a less central goal, though Israel will likely claim to have created the necessary conditions for one.

Another source adds that, as in the previous ceasefire deal with Iran, which ended the 12-day war in June 2025, Netanyahu is expected to be involved in shaping any final agreement to end this round of fighting.

At the same time, Israeli sources caution that a successful deal from Jerusalem’s perspective would effectively require Iranian surrender, while one security source expresses skepticism that any agreement is currently within reach – and doubt that Iran would honor it even if achieved.

Channel 12 further notes that any potential deal could also have implications for the northern front, in light of the ongoing fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon.