Washington, DC – A former US Secretary of Defense has revealed details of a long-standing disagreement within US policymaking circles with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding assessments of Iran’s future and the possibility of its collapse under internal and external pressures.
According to the former secretary, in recounting that period, the disagreement was not merely a passing difference of opinion. It extended to a deeper level of assessment of Iran’s strategic situation. Netanyahu held the view that escalating economic pressures and sanctions could push the Iranian regime to a “breaking point.” Meanwhile, the US defense establishment believed that the structure of the Iranian state was more cohesive and resilient than was being portrayed politically.
He pointed out that this divergence was reflected in closed-door discussions within the US administration, particularly given the escalating tensions in the Middle East. There are also numerous issues related to Iran, ranging from its nuclear program to its regional influence in multiple arenas.
According to observers, these accounts illustrate that the disagreements between Washington and Tel Aviv regarding Iran are not a recent development. Rather, they stem from years of conflicting assessments concerning the nature of the Iranian regime and the limits of the effectiveness of pressure on it. This, in turn, is reflected in the policies pursued in the region to this day.
