As diplomatic efforts to address Iran’s nuclear program resume in Muscat, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has announced a new proposal aimed at assuring international monitors of the peaceful nature of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Iranian officials claim a willingness to resolve questions and uncertainties about their activities, expressing readiness to engage only at the negotiating table instead of the media, and warning that excessive demands could jeopardize progress.
Iran’s efforts to frame its program as transparent and peaceful come amid heightened scrutiny from Israel and Western nations, who view Tehran’s reassurances with skepticism. Since Iran’s clandestine nuclear activities were revealed in the early 2000s, international bodies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have struggled to obtain satisfactory answers to concerns over hidden facilities, uranium enrichment far above civilian energy requirements, and delayed inspections.
Israel has consistently described Iran’s ambitions as a direct threat to its security and the wider region. Officials in Jerusalem point to Iran’s extensive support for terror groups, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and militias in Syria and Iraq, all of which have been used to destabilize neighboring states and attack Israeli civilians. This regional network, often referred to as the “axis of resistance,” is armed and funded by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
The urgency of preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon is compounded by the events of October 7, 2023, when the Hamas massacre marked the most lethal antisemitic attack since the Holocaust. The atrocities carried out—including mass executions, sexual abuse, and the kidnapping of Israeli civilians—were enabled in part by Iranian support. Israeli policymakers maintain that any diplomatic process which ignores Iran’s ongoing arming and strategic coordination with terror proxies fails to address the core threat posed by the Islamic Republic.
Since the collapse of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) following the U.S. withdrawal, Iran has accelerated its nuclear program, enriching uranium to levels approaching those required for weapons and impeding international monitoring. The Biden administration, alongside European powers, has sought to return to negotiations, but efforts are complicated by rapidly deteriorating trust and Iran’s record of using talks to delay punitive measures while advancing its agenda.
The Israeli position, articulated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, is rooted in the principle of self-defense. Israel insists that only uncompromising scrutiny, strict limitations, and military deterrence can guarantee Iran is kept from achieving a military nuclear capability. Intelligence from Israeli and Western sources indicates Iran’s networks for missile and drone proliferation are expanding, and coordination with other regional threats continues unabated.
In this context, Iran’s diplomatic maneuvering is seen by many in Israel as an attempt to divide international consensus and exploit the negotiating process. The use of Oman as a mediation channel reflects both distrust of public diplomacy and lessons learned from previous failed agreements.
The stakes for regional and global security remain high. The Abraham Accords, which have brought Israel closer to key Arab allies wary of Iran, underline that opposition to Iranian nuclearization extends beyond Jerusalem alone. With the specter of nuclear proliferation looming—should Iran succeed—states across the Middle East may be drawn into an arms race, further destabilizing the region.
As the latest round of talks unfolds, the central question persists: Will diplomacy enforce a real halt to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, or will it again serve as cover for advances toward weaponization? Israeli officials, supported by recent events, remain adamant that only firm red lines and robust verification can prevent a catastrophic outcome for Israel and its allies.
