Israel's envoy to India, Reuven Azar, in an exclusive interview with India Today, picked holes in the US's interim peace deal with Iran. Azar said Israel's security concerns had not been adequately addressed, especially concerning Lebanon and Iran's ballistic missiles.
Israel's envoy to India Reuven Azar
New Delhi, UPDATED: Jun 18, 2026 16:56 IST
Israel's envoy to India, Reuven Azar, categorically asserted on Thursday that Tel Aviv's interests have been compromised as key concerns, including Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for regional proxies, were not addressed in the US-Iran peace deal. In an exclusive interview with India Today, Azar warned that such unresolved security concerns could be a recipe for future confrontation with Iran.
"Israel's interests have been compromised when it comes to ballistic missiles. The challenge for Israel remains the ballistic missile issue and Iran's support for proxies," Azar said, referring to outfits like Hezbollah and Hamas that are believed to receive funding and weapons from Tehran. "We have concerns on the nuclear issue as well," he further said.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a 14-point agreement aimed at stopping the conflict that engulfed the whole of the Middle East and triggered a global energy crisis.
Interestingly, the agreement doesn't address Iran's ballistic missile program - an issue that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said was a priority at the start of the war. In fact, Trump went as far as to say that he would not pressure Iran to abandon its ballistic missile program.
The agreement now paves the way for a 60-day negotiation period focused on Iran's nuclear program and its enriched uranium.
What has rankled Israel is the inclusion of Lebanon, a key Iranian demand, in the deal. The agreement restrains Israel from conducting military operations in the country.
The Israeli envoy, however, underlined that Israel would maintain its presence in southern Lebanon, arguing that its security concerns had not been adequately addressed.
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Published By:
Shipra Parashar
Published On:
Jun 18, 2026 16:24 IST
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