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3. Israel Sets Red Lines Ahead of U.S.-Iran Talks as Witkoff Visits Jerusalem

Israel is seeking firm assurances from Washington ahead of anticipated U.S.-Iran talks on Friday in Turkey, with Israeli officials signaling that any agreement falling short of dismantling Tehran’s nuclear capabilities would be unacceptable.

The issue will be central to meetings in Jerusalem on Tuesday, as U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, and Mossad Director David Barnea, according to Israeli media reports. Unlike previous visits, Witkoff is not expected to be accompanied by Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser.

The visit comes days before a planned meeting in Turkey between Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, part of renewed diplomatic efforts to ease escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Israel’s Nuclear Red Lines

Israeli officials have conveyed to U.S, counterparts a set of non-negotiable demands regarding Iran’s nuclear program, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported. Chief among them is a requirement for zero uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, alongside the removal of enriched uranium stockpiles from the country.

Israeli security officials fear that Washington could ultimately settle for a narrowly focused agreement addressing only Iran’s nuclear file while sidelining two other issues Israel considers critical: Iran’s ballistic missile program and Tehran’s support for armed proxy groups across the region, including Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned factions.

Missile Program a Core Concern

Israeli officials increasingly describe Iran’s missile arsenal as an existential threat, arguing that its expanding range and precision place Israel directly at risk. According to Israeli assessments cited in local media, curbing missile range, particularly long-range systems, is seen as essential to reducing the strategic threat posed by Iran.

Iranian officials, however, have consistently rejected any discussion of missile capabilities, framing them as a sovereign defensive matter. Tehran has repeatedly stated that Araghchi’s mandate in talks with the U.S. is limited strictly to the nuclear issue, a position Israeli officials view as a weak foundation for any durable agreement.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said earlier Tuesday that he had instructed his foreign minister to pursue “fair and balanced negotiations” with the U.S., though Iranian officials continue to insist talks must remain confined to the nuclear file.

A Narrow Diplomatic Window

The upcoming talks mark the most serious attempt at renewed diplomacy since last year’s regional escalation and come amid heightened Israeli anxiety that international pressure to avoid conflict could lead to compromises Israel deems strategically dangerous.

Israeli officials argue that past agreements, which focused narrowly on nuclear restrictions, failed to address the broader architecture of Iran’s regional power, including missiles and proxy networks, leaving Israel exposed despite formal limits on enrichment.

As negotiations approach, Israel appears determined to press Washington to maintain a comprehensive approach, warning that an agreement addressing only centrifuges and stockpiles could leave deeper security challenges unresolved.