Israel Can Propose Peace with Iran
The government of Israel considers the Islamic Republic of Iran to be their nation’s major enemy. The Iranian government has threatened to “wipe the Zionist entity off the map.” Iran is enriching uranium to a level approaching weapon’s grade. Iran does not currently allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) full inspection of its nuclear facilities, as it suspended cooperation with the UN watchdog in July 2025 following Israeli and American airstrikes on its nuclear sites. (Israel does not allow the IAEA to inspect its nuclear facilities in the same way it does other nations because Israel is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).),
Currently, Iran has the largest Jewish population among Muslim-majority countries, with an estimated number of 10,000 or more. Before the Iranian revolution of 1979, Iran and Israel had cordial relations. Both nations viewed their relationship as a strategic counterbalance to Arab nationalism and Soviet influence. Israel saw Iran as a valuable ally against Arab states.
During the 1973 Yom Kupper war, Iran did not join the Arab oil embargo and continued its regular shipments to Israel.
In retaliation for Israel’s surprise attack on Iranian military targets on June 13, 2025, Iran launched a series of missile and drone strikes against Israel. These attacks resulted in casualties and damage to various locations, including Tel Aviv and Haifa. Israel’s air defense systems intercepted many of the incoming projectiles. Despite the attacks and counterattacks, a US-sponsored ceasefire was eventually established, bringing a temporary halt to the conflict.
On August 8, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan met at the White House with President Donald Trump. Together, the three men signed documents aimed at ending the hostilities that had defined Armenian-Azerbaijani relations for more than 35 years. Jews in both countries could benefit. In a video message to the Iranian people on August 12, Prime Minister Netanyahu offered to send experts from Israel, widely seen as leaders in water management, to help Iran deal with a serious water crisis if the Iranian people would overthrow their ruling clerical regime.
On August 13, the Iranian president promptly rejected the Israeli prime minister’s offer.
Today, Israel has no endgame for the war in Gaza. Israel is widely viewed as the ruthless aggressor, deliberately starving the civilians in Gaza in a futile attempt to compel Hamas to release the hostages and disarm. On the other hand, Hamas is viewed sympathetically as an innocent victim hiding underground, safe from Israeli airstrikes, occasionally feeding their invisible hostages inside tunnels closed to civilians. Meanwhile, Iran has recently been weakened by direct attacks by Israel and the US, and weakened indirectly by Israeli attacks on Iran’s proxies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran’s current weakness gives Israel a brief window of opportunity to propose to negotiate a positive relationship between both countries. Israel could follow the example of Armenia and Azerbaijan whose agreement to end hostilities was facilitated by President Trump. President Trump has good relations with President Putin of Russia who, in turn, has good relations with the leaders of Iran. Perhaps President Trump could ask President Putin to persuade the government of Iran to consider a proposal to end hostilities with the state of Israel. If this overture is rebuffed, it will at least open the door to the possibility that, in the near future, a centrist government of Israel will be able end hostilities with a moderate government of Iran.
