Where do the US and Israel differ on Iran strategy?

Amid new talks on Iran's nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled skepticism on Tehran honoring a deal with Donald Trump. ConflictsAsiaWhere do the US and Israel differ on Iran strategy?Elina Farhadi02/16/2026February 16, 2026Amid new talks on Iran's nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled skepticism on Tehran honoring a deal with Donald Trump.https://p.dw.com/p/58rNtIsraeli Prime Minister Netanyahu (left) has said any deal with Iran must remove its ability to produce nuclear weaponsImage: Jim Watson/AFPAdvertisementTies between the United States and Israel are close, but strategic and tactical differences still crop up when it comes to dealing with the Islamic Republic of Iran. With US President Donald Trump pushes Iran towards a new nuclear deal, the two nations are set foranother round of talks in Geneva this week. Oman is mediating the process, which involves US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi. The US and Israel both want to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, while keeping Tehran from expanding it regional influence and proxy militias. Iran, in its turn, is insisting that its nuclear program is peaceful, and has blustered at the attempts of limiting its influence. Its leaders, however, might be willing to make concessions to avoid open conflict in lieu of last year's 12 day war. Trump looking for a deal For Trump, the main priority is to reach a new "deal" with Iran, political analyst Reza Talebi told DW. Washington is pursuing this goal through a strategy of "maximum pressure," which combines economic sanctions with military deterrence. Israel, on the other hand, attaches significantly less importance to any agreement with Tehran and fundamentally doubts the viability of any deal with the regime, according to the analyst. The Israeli government questions if Iran would adhere to agreements in the long term. US taking away regime's 'breathing space' Security analyst Shukriya Bradost told DW that it is clear the Trump administration right now is geared towards making a deal with Tehran. "To force Tehran to the negotiating table, Washington is relying on massive economic sanctions, especially against Iranian oil sales," she said, adding the aim is to systematically dry up the regime's sources of income and deny it any economic "breathing space." This policy is intended to force Iran to capitulate, or at least make far-reaching concessions, without triggering a major regional war. The threat of military action plays primarily a supporting role in this strategy, the expert said, pointing to the recent deployment of US aircraft carriers to the Middle East. US sends largest aircraft carrier to Middle EastTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Although Trump has publicly speculated about possible "regime change," according to expert Bradost, a large-scale military strike is only Washington's last resort. The US is wary of reengaging in protracted wars and, in her view, has no concrete plan for a forced change of power. From the US perspective, a limited agreement with Iran can buy some time and avoid major conflicts, even if it does not address all of Israel's security concerns. Also, while weighing up Israel's security interests, Washington must also keep an eye on its European allies,  global energy markets, and the risk of military escalation in the region. What does Israel want from a US-Iran deal? For Israel, Iran represents an existential threat, and the Israeli government continues to emphasize that any deal with the regime must credibly remove its ability to project force. Last Wednesday, Netanyahu met with Trump at the White House for private talks on the ongoing US-Iran nuclear negotiations. In brief remarks to reporters after the meeting, Trump shared few details other that he had "insisted" that negotiations with Iran continue to see if a deal can be reached.Possible US strikes on Iran — Balancing act in the Gulf To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video On Sunday, during a speech at a conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu reiterated the Israeli position that any deal with Iran must call for dismantling Iran's nuclear infrastructure and the removal of the existing enriched uranium. "There shall be no enrichment capability — not stopping the enrichment process, but dismantling the equipment and the infrastructure that allows you to enrich in the first place," Netanyahu said at the annual Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Netanyahu added he is "skeptical" that the Iranians would honor any deal with Trump. Israel has also said that US talks with the Iranians must also address Iran's ballistic missiles and Tehran support for regional proxies. During Israel's 12-day war with Iran in June 2025, the US bombed several Iranian nuclear sites. Trump claimed repeatedly that the strikes had "complet