Israeli Minister on US-Iran peace talks, West Asia war and more

In an exclusive interview with India Today, Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel discusses the escalating tensions in West Asia, US-Iran peace talks and much more. Haskel expresses scepticism regarding the Iranian regime’s intentions, stating that an economic collapse of the regime is ‘only a matter of time’ due to international pressure and internal corruption. She emphasises that for any ‘grand bargain’ to succeed, Iran must completely eliminate its nuclear program, ensure zero uranium enrichment, and dismantle its ballistic missile programme. Addressing the conflict in Lebanon, Haskel defends Israel’s military actions, comparing the situation to India’s security challenges with Pakistan and asserting that Israel targets Hezbollah militants rather than civilians. She highlights that the Lebanese government itself has struggled against Hezbollah, which she describes as an ‘Iranian army’ occupying Lebanon. The Deputy Foreign Minister also addresses the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, attributing the responsibility for the conflict and subsequent suffering entirely to Hamas following the October 7 massacre.