Yaki Dayan, the former Israeli consul in Los Angeles, cautioned that the US-Saudi civilian nuclear pact could ignite a regional arms race while asserting that President Donald Trump remains locked in an intensifying standoff with Iran lacking any evident off-ramp, as shared in a Thursday interview with 103FM.

"Negotiations have progressed steadily over recent months," Dayan remarked to hosts Barak Seri and Eli Ohana.

"Trump aims to finalize numerous agreements yielding maximum financial returns. Normalization appears excluded from this package, or details would already be public. The precise terms require review and should reach Congress for approval shortly," he noted.

US-Saudi accord diverges from prior UAE framework, expert explains

"Unlike the 2009 UAE arrangement barring independent uranium enrichment, the Saudi version grants a two-year trial window after which Washington might permit domestic enrichment. Should that not occur, a decade-long veto applies before Riyadh can revisit the matter," Dayan outlined based on reported conditions.

Dayan highlighted Trump's commercial priorities shaping policy, noting the president secures tens of billions in exchange, with American firms benefiting similarly. He stressed the arrangement functions as a business transaction from Trump's viewpoint. A key concern remains congressional approval: even if lawmakers reject the deal, the president can veto that rejection, requiring a two-thirds override majority that seems unattainable given current divisions.

Should Riyadh gain independent enrichment, Ankara and Cairo would likely press identical demands, Dayan warned.

Trump's Iran war pledge remains unkept amid Hormuz tensions

Turning to Iran, Dayan observed that Trump entered the conflict promising Americans an end to Tehran's nuclear ambitions, a goal still unmet. Current efforts center on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with Trump signaling reluctance for direct involvement while awaiting Qatari mediation to secure Iranian agreement on access.

Dayan stated Trump rejects revisiting a proposed ten-day ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Pakistan to guarantee Hormuz reopening, having navigated similar proposals before. If mediators confirm Iranian readiness, progress follows; otherwise, Trump stays ensnared in an escalation trap.

This bind reflects Trump's preference for a managed resolution to an unpopular conflict, with oil prices climbing and midterm elections approaching. Advisers and Republican voices warn of losing congressional majorities unless focus shifts to domestic costs rather than Iran operations, Dayan concluded.