“Now is the time to save the Iran nuclear deal” was the headline of a July 26 op-ed by European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell in The Financial Times. Borrell went on to describe his efforts as coordinator of negotiations with Iran to bring the sides together for a return to the 2015 agreement curbing Iran’s nuclear program and the draft he had proposed that is now on the table awaiting the sides’ decisions.

“This text represents the best possible deal that I see as feasible. After 15 months of intense, constructive negotiations. … I have concluded that the space for additional significant compromises has been exhausted,” wrote Borrell.

Has it, indeed? Israeli officials agree with Borrell’s assessment. “Borrell tried to delay this moment as long as he could,” a top Israeli diplomatic source in Jerusalem told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. “But he was left with no other choice. The agreement is on the table. Both sides appear tired of the contacts and seem to have reached an end point.”

This senior source noted, “The Americans too have despaired of this event.” US Special Representative for Iran Rob Malley recently conveyed a message to Israel saying he does not believe the Iranians will accept Borrell’s proposed text, the source said, adding, “In his [Malley’s] opinion, this deal is dead.”