Trump-brokered Iran deal draws praise abroad and sharp criticism in Israel

Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has hailed what he described as the peaceful resolution of the conflict between the United States and Iran after the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding that begins 60 days of negotiations. Sharif, who played a mediating role, said the agreement would immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The deal was welcomed by leaders at the G7 meeting in France, who called it a historic chance to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. European leaders, though largely sidelined from the talks, also expressed relief that the strait would reopen and oil shipments could resume. French President Emmanuel Macron said it would end a situation of great instability with serious consequences for European economies.

In Israel, the response was much colder. Former Netanyahu adviser Mark Regev questioned whether Iran would negotiate seriously once the United States had lifted economic and military pressure. Under the agreement, Iran is to reopen the strait in return for waivers on US sanctions covering crude oil exports, petroleum products and related banking services, before entering talks on its nuclear program and stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Benjamin Netanyahu of promising a historic victory but delivering a crisis with Washington, along with Iranian access to the strait and new money for the Revolutionary Guards. Some Israeli analysts and former security officials defended the accord as a more realistic shift in US policy, while criticism of Donald Trump’s handling of the war and ceasefire has also surfaced in local media. In Washington, at least one Republican ally, Senator Lindsey Graham, said a conversation with US envoy Steve Witkoff had changed his view and that the memorandum would be beneficial if it helped reopen the strait.