Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he still believes a diplomatic solution is the best path to resolving the conflict with Iran, while welcoming what he described as a “firm and clear” US response.
– Speaking in an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya English from Jerusalem on Thursday, Herzog said he was “not surprised” by the latest developments, arguing that Iran has a long history of violating agreements and acting through regional proxies.
– He said Israel had repeatedly raised legitimate concerns about Iran’s behavior, adding that recent events demonstrated those concerns.
– “I believe in a diplomatic solution to the conflict,” Herzog said. “I think this is absolutely what needs to be done, and I actually know that this is the clear Israeli position.”
– At the same time, Herzog said Israel had legitimate concerns over Iran’s conduct and welcomed Washington’s response.
– “I’m happy that the American reaction is firm and clear, so that everybody understands, especially the Iranians, that they cannot goof around here,” he said, adding that Tehran must “go back on track” if it wants to pursue a path out of the conflict.
– Asked whether the war with Iran had been a strategic failure, Herzog declined to draw conclusions, saying diplomatic efforts could still resume.
– He said he was not in the room and Israel was not involved in the negotiations, so he did not want to make definitive judgments while efforts to return to talks were ongoing. However, he said any future agreement should ensure Iran is prevented from obtaining nuclear capabilities and cannot “blackmail” the international community.
– Herzog also said any closure of the Strait of Hormuz would amount to “blackmail” and an “extorting” of the international community.
– Turning to regional diplomacy, Herzog reiterated Israel’s desire to reach agreements with additional Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, saying any future normalization should be dealt with directly between the two countries, with US support, rather than under any particular formula or definition.
– He praised the Abraham Accords and Israel’s ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco as examples of successful regional cooperation, but stressed that Saudi Arabia is “a very important country” and “a major leader in the Muslim world.”