President Donald Trump surprised Israel and the international community by granting Iran an additional five days to continue negotiations, even as US and Israeli military operations remain ongoing, but wide differences between the sides continue to cast doubt on the chances of reaching an agreement.
Earlier today, Trump announced that he was postponing his ultimatum regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and moving forward with renewed talks with Iranian representatives. Despite his optimistic tone, officials acknowledge that significant disagreements remain between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking Monday evening, Trump said he believes an agreement to end the war could be reached in the near future and would help eliminate threats against the United States. “We’ve had great talks with Iran. We’ve spoken to them a lot, but this time they’re serious,” he said.
Despite those remarks, it remains unclear whether any concrete deal is actually taking shape or whether the talks are primarily aimed at buying time and calming global economic concerns.
During a conversation earlier in the day between Prime Minister bIBI Netanyahu and Vice President J.D. Vance, Netanyahu was updated on the ongoing contacts between Washington and Tehran. According to the message conveyed to Israel, the United States intends to stand firm on its red lines, which closely mirror Israel’s own position.
Those conditions reportedly include the removal of enriched uranium from Iran, a full halt to its nuclear program, the reinstatement of intrusive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, limits on Iran’s ballistic missile program — with Washington pushing for a five-year freeze — and an end to Iranian funding of terrorist organizations.
Israeli officials have expressed skepticism that Iran would agree to such terms, viewing them as equivalent to a surrender. They have also questioned Trump’s optimism, particularly as Iranian officials continue to deny publicly that any agreements have been reached.
According to reports, Israeli officials are concerned that Iran may use the negotiations to stall for time, while Trump may ultimately accept a partial agreement that allows him to declare success without insisting on all of the stated conditions.
Additional reports indicate that Iran has conveyed messages suggesting that Lebanon should be included in any final agreement, further complicating the diplomatic process.
Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei, recently appointed as a military adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, responded to Trump’s earlier threat to target Iran’s electrical infrastructure — a threat that has since been withdrawn — with a warning. “This time it will not be an eye for an eye, but a head for an eye, and you will leave the Gulf. The war will continue until we are compensated for all our losses, all economic sanctions are lifted, and we receive international legal guarantees that Washington will not interfere in our affairs,” he said.
At the same time, there are indications that Iran may be open to certain concessions. According to Channel 12, Iranian negotiators have signaled a willingness to consider a temporary five-year freeze on their missile program. They have also indicated openness to discussions on reducing uranium enrichment, although the scope of those reductions remains unclear.
A central issue in the talks is Iran’s stockpile of approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, much of which is believed to be buried beneath damaged facilities in Fordo and Natanz. Iran has also reportedly expressed readiness to allow international monitoring of its remaining centrifuges, as well as to discuss curbing support for regional proxy groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and militias in Iraq.
However, conflicting messages from within Iran’s leadership continue to raise doubts about the seriousness of the negotiations. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has denied that any talks have taken place, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has signaled its intention to continue fighting “until the end.” These contradictions have led to questions about whether there is a clear authority in Tehran capable of negotiating a binding agreement.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Iran has set extremely high conditions for ending hostilities, including demands that have slowed progress in the talks. Arab officials involved in mediation efforts said that discussions are focused in part on the future of the Strait of Hormuz.
One proposal under consideration would place the strategic waterway under the control of a neutral regional body to ensure free passage for shipping. Egyptian officials have also reportedly suggested a five-day ceasefire as a way to build trust between Tehran and Washington.
In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has demanded a new arrangement in which Iran would be allowed to collect fees from ships passing through the strait, similar to Egypt’s model in the Suez Canal.
Additional Iranian demands reportedly include guarantees that the war cannot resume, the closure of American bases in the Middle East, compensation for damages caused during the conflict, and an end to Israeli military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has emerged as a potential mediator, with discussions underway about a possible meeting between the parties as early as this Saturday in Islamabad. The effort is being led by General Asim Munir, Pakistan’s military chief and de facto leader, who is also facing internal pressure from the country’s Shiite population over the government’s stance toward Iran.
Trump said earlier that he is in contact with a “respected leader” in Iran, though not with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly. Israeli officials believe the discussions may be taking place with Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf, who denied the claim and described it as “fake news intended to manipulate markets and escape the quagmire in which the United States and Israel are trapped.”
However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that a request for talks with Ghalibaf had indeed been received from the United States, although Tehran has not yet responded. Iran’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed that regional countries are attempting to mediate an end to the war.
Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed Trump’s remarks on the negotiations, saying, “Earlier today I spoke with Trump. He believes there is an opportunity to leverage the tremendous achievements of the IDF and the US military to achieve the objectives of the war through an agreement, an agreement that will preserve our vital interests.”
{Matzav.com}