Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has issued a stark warning that Israel is actively seeking to derail any prospects for peace between the United States and Iran. In a statement shared on social media, ElBaradei asserted that Israel’s foremost strategic objective is to eliminate all chances of reconciliation between Washington and Tehran, cautioning that such efforts could further destabilize an already volatile region.
ElBaradei argued that Israel is likely to extend similar efforts toward undermining any rapprochement between Iran and neighboring Persian Gulf states. He suggested that these actions could ultimately backfire, leading to Israel’s increasing marginalization in the region while drawing greater international attention to its policies. He specifically referenced ongoing allegations of occupation, settlement expansion, and ethnic cleansing, pointing to recent developments in Lebanon as evidence of escalating tensions.
The former diplomat’s remarks come amid a surge in violence following reports that Israeli military actions in Lebanon resulted in hundreds of deaths. These developments occurred shortly after Donald Trump announced a tentative two-week pause in US attacks on Iran, raising hopes for renewed diplomatic engagement. Trump also indicated that a 10-point proposal submitted by Iran could serve as a viable framework for negotiations, describing it as a workable basis for dialogue.
According to the proposal, Iran has called for a comprehensive cessation of hostilities across the region, including in Lebanon, and has tied any halt to its own defensive operations to a broader end to what it describes as aggression by its adversaries. ElBaradei emphasized that a key prerequisite for achieving lasting peace would be for the United States to restrain Israeli military actions, a step he argued Washington has thus far failed to take.
He expressed concern that the lack of US intervention has contributed to continued violence, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The consequences, he warned, are evident in the growing toll of destruction and loss of life, underscoring the urgent need for a coordinated international effort to de-escalate the crisis and revive diplomatic pathways.
