Former Israeli ambassador to the United States Dr. Michael Oren has warned that the diplomatic stalemate between Washington and Tehran could give way to renewed military confrontation, arguing that the outcome of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections may prove decisive for both regional security and President Donald Trump's political future.
Speaking to Israeli radio station 103FM in remarks reported by Maria, Oren expressed deep skepticism that ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran will produce a lasting agreement.
"The negotiations are not progressing anywhere. The chances of reaching a permanent agreement are extremely slim," he said.
According to Oren, Iran is closely monitoring the U.S. political calendar and could seek to exploit it by initiating military action that would drive up global oil prices and potentially damage Republican prospects in the November midterm elections.
"The Iranians are not fools. They understand the political game. They are not passive," Oren said, according to Maariv. "We need to prepare for every scenario, including a kinetic scenario, meaning war."
Oren said developments after the midterm elections will largely depend on which party controls Congress. If Republicans prevail, he argued, President Trump would have greater freedom to pursue his preferred policies toward Iran. However, if Republicans lose one or both chambers, Oren believes Democrats would move quickly to launch impeachment proceedings against the president.
He suggested that such efforts would likely focus on allegations concerning Trump's conduct in office. Oren said U.S. media outlets have reported extensively on various business dealings involving the president, citing reports that Trump granted a pardon to a Chinese national convicted of laundering billions of dollars before subsequently reaching a separate agreement with the Chinese president.
Drawing a historical comparison, Oren said Democrats could pursue impeachment in much the same way Republicans previously sought to impeach former President Joe Biden over allegations related to his son.
"A great deal depends on the election results," Oren concluded.
The interview, reported by Maariv following Oren's appearance on 103FM, underscores concerns among some Israeli observers that stalled diplomacy, combined with the U.S. electoral calendar, could heighten the risk of renewed tensions or even military confrontation between Washington and Tehran in the months ahead.
This version is more polished, reads like international wire copy, and clearly attributes Oren's claims to Maariv rather than presenting them as established facts.