Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

15 June 2026

2-minute read

Diplomatic efforts between Iran and the US have culminated in a “done deal” barring Israel spoiling it, with both Iran and the US agreeing to the Memorandum of Understanding which will be signed on Friday in Vienna, stated Naeem Jeena, executive-director of the Afro-Middle East Centre.

Pakistan’s role in regional diplomacy has been the key factor that resulted in the mediation. Pakistan, alongside Qatar, played the leading role in the peace process, with Saudi Arabia and Egypt joining in on a smaller scale. No longer able to rely on the US, new security arrangements among the GCC countries were made, as all American bases within their countries were what originally attracted the attacks.

Although the details of the deal are not fully known, one of them includes Israel withdrawing from the whole of Lebanon, and South Lebanon in particular, which will leave Netanyahu in a precarious position. However, if they decide not to move out of South Lebanon, the deal will be “scuppered.” The other big issue is the opening of the Strait of Hormuz by the Iranians, and the end of the blockade by the Americans, which both countries seem to have a different understanding of.

To determine whether this is a genuine peace process or just a diplomatic breakthrough, Jeena said that they will be watching Israel “most closely”. With Israel not wanting any deals brokered and Netanyahu, whose lifelong dream it has been to destroy Iran, not wanting to get out of this war due to it saving his political career and keeping him, personally, out of the courts, the world will be waiting for bated breath.

The “spoiler capability of Israel” hangs over the deal, with Netanyahu being the one who started this, and continuing his efforts to convince the Americans that Iran cannot be trusted and that the deal must end.

Listen to the full interview with Ml Habib Bobat and Naeem Jeena here.