In an interview with Middle East Progress, former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy discusses the threat of Iran obtaining a nuclear device and states that Israel should not interfere with the new administration’s approach towards the rogue state. According to Halevi, Iran merely seeks regional influence and the only manner in which Iran can extend the influence further in the Middle East would be through the recognition of Israel. Notably, he states:
“First, the great difficulty of getting the Iranians to agree to a solution which will prevent them from achieving an option to produce a nuclear device. Second, trying to get the Iranians to agree to putting the lid on their enrichment program after they have repeatedly declared that it is their sovereign right to enrich uranium like any other country in the world. It is an issue of Iranian pride and the problem is how to address the Iranian national pride. And the third challenge is how to reach a solution with which other countries in the region can live comfortably. The other countries in the region being the Sunni Arab moderate states and Israel.”
“I do not think they should be allowed a role anywhere westward of Iraq because I believe that it will not be possible to reach a regional understanding without Israel being on board. I would say that the four regional powers who are active in the region are Turkey, Egypt, Iran and Israel, and you cannot create a regional architecture without Israel being on board. If the Iranians want to extend their aspirations westward this cannot be done without Iran recognizing Israel’s legitimacy and recognizing Israel’s role as a major player in the region.”
“I think that Israel should make its views clear to those who are conducting the dialogue with Iran, primarily the United States. I think Israel cannot interfere, should not interfere and should not wish to interfere in the dialogue as long as its interests are recognized and protected. I think that Israel should not be in the forefront of negotiating and conducting a dialogue with Iran at this stage, now that the United States has entered the picture.”
