Netanyahu under pressure in Israel after US-Iran agreement

The U.S.-Iran agreement, which sidestepped Israel entirely, has thrust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into uncharted political turbulence, exposing the limits of Israel’s influence over Washington’s Middle East strategy. For years, Netanyahu positioned himself as the indispensable guardian of Israeli security, often clashing with U.S. administrations over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. His vocal opposition to the 2015 nuclear deal—dubbed a “historic mistake” by President Obama—became a defining feature of his leadership, even shaping Israel’s covert operations to sabotage Iranian nuclear sites. Yet the new framework agreement, negotiated without Israeli input, suggests a fundamental shift in Washington’s calculus: that direct diplomacy with Tehran may now take precedence over Israel’s security concerns. This development arrives at a precarious moment for Netanyahu, whose political survival has long relied on projecting strength against Iran while maintaining unwavering U.S. support. Domestically, his right-wing coalition faces growing fragmentation, with hardliners accusing him of weakness in the face of perceived U.S. betrayal. Protests have erupted outside his residence, with critics demanding his resignation. Meanwhile, security officials and former military leaders—traditionally Netanyahu’s allies—have begun questioning whether his confrontational approach has left Israel isolated. The absence of Israel from the deal’s framework raises urgent questions about its long-term deterrence strategy, particularly as Iran’s regional influence continues to expand through proxies in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. Looking ahead, Netanyahu’s options are limited. A direct confrontation with Iran risks escalating into a wider conflict, while public pressure to take military action could further alienate Washington. Domestically, his government’s stability hinges on whether he can reframe the situation as a temporary setback rather than a strategic failure. Yet the broader trend is clear: Israel’s ability to dictate U.S. policy on Iran is waning, and Netanyahu’s legacy as the leader who shaped the Iranian threat narrative may now be overshadowed by the realities of geopolitical realignment. For policymakers and regional observers, the episode underscores a sobering truth—Israel’s strategic weight, while still formidable, is no longer the decisive factor it once was in Washington’s calculus.