Tel Aviv, Israel – Former head of the Iranian division of Israeli military intelligence, Assaf Cohen, stated that Iran finds itself compelled to make concessions given what he described as its “difficult situation.” He also asserted that Iran is simultaneously seeking to buy more time in anticipation of a potential attack.
Regarding the prospects for resuming negotiations between Tehran and Washington, Cohen indicated that the fundamental question is whether the United States genuinely desires an agreement. This would create room for negotiation on the nuclear issue. Or, has the US decided on an attack and simply needs more time to prepare for it?
Regarding the Iranian nuclear program, Cohen said that Tehran “makes many statements; it talks about what it will do with the materials it possesses, hints at the possibility of reducing them, and says that monitoring will return,” but he questioned the actual implementation mechanism. He also questioned the willingness to go all the way, suggesting that this is “unlikely.” The former Israeli official emphasized that the mechanism for resuming international monitoring and the extent of Iran’s commitment to fully implementing its obligations represent the most significant points of uncertainty in any potential negotiation process. This is especially true given the ongoing regional tensions and the sharp divergence in positions among the parties involved.
