A recent agreement between the United States and Iran, announced by US President Donald Trump, has drawn sharp criticism from former Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy. Levy cautioned that while India might cautiously welcome the deal, it presents a “disaster for India” with significant geopolitical and economic repercussions.
The agreement, which includes a 60-day ceasefire extension and ongoing negotiations for a final resolution, aims to end months of conflict. However, Israel's National Security Minister has already stated his government is not bound by the pact, underscoring lingering regional tensions.
Pakistan's Elevated Diplomatic Standing
Levy’s primary concern for India centers on Pakistan's role in the diplomatic breakthrough. He argued that the deal elevates India’s “arch-nemesis Pakistan” to the status of a global peacemaker. This, he claimed, undermines India's consistent efforts to highlight Pakistan's support for terrorism and transforms Islamabad into a “powerbroker and leader of the Global South at India’s expense.”
Threats to India's Connectivity and Trade
Secondly, Levy warned that the agreement could jeopardize India's long-term connectivity aspirations in West Asia. Before the October 7 conflict, India was actively pursuing the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), envisioning a crucial trade route connecting India to Europe via the Gulf and Israel. An “empowered Iran,” Levy stated, with ballistic missile capabilities and billions in sanctions relief, could dominate India's western trading gateway and imperil this vital vision for regional commerce and shipping routes in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
Risks to Indian Workers in the Gulf
A third significant concern, according to Levy, involves the nearly 10 million Indian workers residing across the Gulf region. He contended that the deal leaves these individuals vulnerable “in the shadow of Iran’s ballistic missiles and killer drones.” For their safety and to protect the substantial remittances they send home, Levy argued that neutralizing the Iranian threat is imperative for India.
Unresolved Nuclear and Missile Issues
Finally, Levy criticized the absence of provisions addressing Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities. He asserted that the “failure to resolve the nuclear issue, while surrendering US leverage,” means India will continue to face threats from an Iranian regime potentially pursuing nuclear weapons in collaboration with Pakistan. Levy concluded that India’s current policy of regional neutrality is increasingly unsustainable, predicting an inevitable shift towards closer strategic ties between India and Israel.
These concerns echo sentiments from geopolitical analyst Ian Bremmer, who described the US-Iran deal as a “disaster” and the “biggest foreign policy failure” of the Trump administration, citing the lack of agreement on nuclear issues, ballistic missiles, and support for proxy groups. Several Israeli political figures have also questioned whether the deal adequately addresses Israel's fundamental security concerns regarding Iran and its proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah.