Israel watches patiently as Iran’s tyrants endure, Arab societies fuel antisemitism, and real hope rests with Iranians.
Iran analyst Benny Sabti of the Institute for National Security Studies delivered pointed criticism of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff during an interview at the Arutz Sheva booth at the Israeli-American Council conference in Florida.
Sabti said he was “shocked” by Witkoff’s narrow focus on Iran’s missile and nuclear programs while disregarding the suffering of ordinary Iranians living under a brutal Islamist regime. He warned that diplomatic discourse has drifted away from the streets and into elite circles, largely framed as a power exchange between U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, with Israel playing a deliberately restrained role.
Sabti suggested Trump may be masking his real intentions, noting that uncertainty has often preceded decisive moves. He described Iran’s rulers as masters of survival, explaining that the regime prioritizes endurance over collapse — even coaching Hamas on how to withstand sustained pressure.
Reflecting on decades of confrontation between Iran’s people and its clerical elite since 1979, Sabti described unprecedented public anger and resistance. He recalled how Trump’s statement that “help is on the way” briefly reignited hope among protesters, though he emphasized regime change is a long process, not a single moment.
Sabti argued that the best outcome for Israel would be an Iran that abandons hostility toward Israel and halts support for terror groups. He cited what he described as leaked Iranian polling showing strong pro-Jewish sentiment among the public — contrasting sharply with entrenched antisemitism across much of the Arab world, where hostility toward Israel is often societal, not merely governmental.
Assessing Iran’s military posture, Sabti portrayed Tehran as weakened and fatigued, with missile stockpiles increasingly ineffective due to shortages of launch systems and foreign components. He cautioned Israelis against exaggerating the threat, concluding that Iran’s regime may survive the first round — but it will emerge wounded, exhausted, and diminished.
