Waiting for the Green Light: How Did We Get to This Point with Iran?

In a new episode of the podcast "To the Edge," reporters Itai Blumenthal and Gili Cohen outline the developments that led to the current situation with Iran, against the backdrop of the Netanyahu-Trump meeting and preparations for another round of fighting. The Israeli interest, the American stance, and the question of whether the green light for an attack will be given are examined.

In the new episode of the podcast "To the Edge" released today (Tuesday), Keren Neubach hosted military and security correspondent Itai Blumenthal and diplomatic correspondent Gili Cohen. The two outlined the developments that brought Israel to its current point with Iran, against the backdrop of Prime Minister Netanyahu's meeting with US President Trump. Cohen said that in Israel they say Trump wants to improve his position in negotiations, but so far the US has not managed to impose its positions on Iran. According to her, there were moments when Israel was sure the green light had been given—but it was not. Blumenthal explained that it is important for the US to open the Strait of Hormuz, and that American strikes are expected to expand beyond the strait. He emphasized that the historical goal of Israel and the US is the nuclear issue, and currently Iran has enriched material—the mission is not complete. According to him, the Americans currently want to lead to a situation where the Iranians give up nuclear weapons without an escalation that would destabilize the Middle East.