Israeli Cabinet Chafes at 60-Day US-Iran Oil Relief as OPEC Shows 19% Output Drop
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jun 17
Israeli Cabinet Chafes at 60-Day US-Iran Oil Relief as OPEC Shows 19% Output Drop
2 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jun 17
Summary
Israeli ministers and defense officials told this week's Security Cabinet meeting that the US-Iran memorandum came just as Tehran was nearing a breaking point under US pressure.
April 12's US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz had trapped Iranian oil, created shortages of goods and medicine, and forced Tehran to start cutting production after storage filled up, officials said.
OPEC data released last week showed Iranian oil output fell 19% month over month, reinforcing Israeli claims that prolonged restrictions could have shut more fields and caused lasting damage.
The new deal suspends US sanctions on Iran's oil sector for 60 days and lets exports resume, prompting Israeli warnings that fresh revenue will ease pressure on the regime.
Raz Zimmt of Israel's INSS said the economic damage is real but cautioned that even a severe crisis would not necessarily force broader Iranian concessions or trigger destabilizing unrest.