Costas Iordanidis
The attack on Iran was planned and executed by two leaders alone: U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. None of Washington's traditional allies, nor even Tel Aviv's most enthusiastic supporters, wanted any part in what many regarded as a reckless adventure.
Now, after three and a half months of relentless bombing, Washington and Tehran have signed a framework agreement aimed at ending hostilities and lifting the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Representatives of the two countries are expected to meet in Bürgenstock to begin the next phase of negotiations and discuss implementation. That is usually how wars end. If there is anything that makes this agreement particularly interesting, and perhaps troubling, it is the fact that Trump has openly brushed aside the positions and strategic preferences of his partner, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The U.S. president is not known for moderation when expressing disagreement, especially with the leaders of allied countries. So, on Sunday, frustrated by Netanyahu's continued bombing campaign in Lebanon, he angrily declared that "Israel would have been destroyed long ago" had he not stepped in himself.
Meanwhile, criticism in Israel was directed at Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Some of Netanyahu's more extreme supporters dismissed them as "Jewish boys bought off by Qatar."
Far more restrained was Danny Citrinowicz, a former senior military intelligence analyst. While noting that Trump had crossed the Rubicon, he also offered the following warning:
"The more Israel is viewed as an obstacle to implementing the Washington-Tehran agreement, the more pressure will build on the Israeli government and on Netanyahu personally. This is a strategic risk that Israel cannot afford to ignore."
As for Trump, he continues to operate in his trademark realm of constructive ambiguity. He has stressed that if he ultimately decides he does not like the agreement, he can always return to military pressure and threats of renewed strikes.
The agreement has been signed.
And the day after, the real story begins.
