Tehran: Shireen Tahmaaseb Hunter, a visiting professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, has asserted that Israel aimed to undermine U.S.-Iran negotiations, project its military prowess, and involve Washington in a conflict with Iran.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Hunter, in an exclusive interview, emphasized that Israel’s military actions against Iran were designed to disrupt discussions between the U.S. and Iran, which sought a peaceful resolution to the Iran nuclear issue. She highlighted that Israel’s longstanding opposition to U.S.-Iran reconciliation motivated its aggressive actions, which contravened the U.N. Charter.

Hunter addressed Israel’s claims of ‘preemptive defense,’ categorizing it as aggression rather than a legitimate defensive measure. She noted Iran’s willingness to take steps to assure other nations of its non-nuclear weapons intentions.

Discussing the U.S.’s potential ulterior motives, Hunter expressed skepticism about whether the talks were genuine or a tactic to catch Iran off-guard. She mentioned that while the U.S. initially seemed open to compromise, pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and American hawks influenced then-President Donald Trump’s stance.

The professor elaborated on Trump’s seemingly contradictory rhetoric, suggesting that there is no inherent conflict between diplomacy and war, referencing Carl von Clausewitz’s view that war is an extension of diplomacy. Hunter contended that the attacks on Iran were a strategy to coerce Iran into a deal favorable to the U.S. and Israel, but Iran’s steadfastness demonstrated the potential costs of war.

Hunter critiqued Trump’s ‘peace through strength’ approach, arguing it promotes a one-sided peace that neglects the legitimate concerns of less powerful nations. She acknowledged Iran’s understandable mistrust of U.S. intentions but advocated for dialogue and mutual concessions to prevent further conflict. She urged Iran to incorporate safeguards in future agreements to avoid surprises like those experienced with the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018.

On the topic of Israeli aggression and the Iran-Israel ceasefire, Hunter called for concrete measures to prevent future hostilities. She emphasized the importance of addressing unresolved issues between Iran and Western powers, including the nuclear dispute and regional security matters, as well as lifting economic sanctions on Iran to reduce the risk of conflict.