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Iran on Wednesday dismissed President Trump’s proposed 15-point framework to end the war, instead presenting its own far-reaching conditions that would significantly expand its regional control and influence.

Despite Trump’s assertion that Tehran had accepted key elements of his plan, including abandoning its pursuit of nuclear weapons, Iranian officials told mediators the proposal was unacceptable, according to reports from state media.

In response, Iranian lawmakers outlined an alternative set of terms under which the Islamic Republic would assume authority over the Strait of Hormuz and take responsibility for securing it, as well as safeguarding its network of allied forces abroad.

At the same time, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has tightened its grip over what remains of Iran’s governing structure, signaled no willingness to de-escalate. The group said the conflict would continue until the United States shuts down all of its military installations in the Gulf and compensates Iran for damages caused by American strikes.

Iran’s leadership is also demanding complete American withdrawal from the region and insists on exclusive control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.

Under Tehran’s proposal, Iran would be permitted to levy transit fees on vessels moving through the strait, mirroring Egypt’s model with the Suez Canal. This potential revenue stream would be paired with a full lifting of international sanctions imposed on the regime.

In addition, Iran is calling for a permanent cessation of hostilities, including an end to Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist organization operating in Lebanon.

While Iran’s proposal did not directly address its nuclear program, it made clear that its missile capabilities are not open for negotiation and would remain intact without restriction.

The Iranian terms stand in stark contrast to Trump’s plan, which a U.S. official described as “ridiculous” and “unrealistic,” according to the WSJ.

Key elements of the American proposal, many of which were reported by Israel’s Channel 12, include a series of sweeping requirements placed on Tehran.

1. Iran must dismantle existing nuclear capabilities.

2. Iran must commit never to pursue nuclear weapons.

3. No uranium enrichment on Iranian territory.

4. Iran must hand its stockpile of enriched uranium to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

5. The Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo nuclear facilities must be dismantled.

6. The IAEA must be granted full access to Iran’s nuclear facilities.

7. Iran must abandon its “regional proxy paradigm.”

8. Iran must cease funding, directing and arming its proxies.

9. The Strait of Hormuz must remain open.

10. Iran’s missile program must be limited in both range and quantity.

11. Iran must limit its use of missiles to self-defense.

In return, Iran would receive the following:

12. The end of sanctions imposed by the international community.

13. US assistance to advance its civilian nuclear program.

14. A “snapback” mechanism allowing for the automatic reimposition of sanctions if Iran fails to comply would be removed.

Iranian officials have rejected these conditions outright, with a senior figure telling PressTV that the demands are “excessive” and disconnected from realities on the ground, particularly as the United States has yet to achieve its objectives nearly a month into the conflict.

“Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met,” the official said.

“The end of the war will occur when Iran decides it should end, not when Trump envisions its conclusion,” he added.

With Washington and Tehran still avoiding direct talks, regional mediators in the Middle East are continuing efforts to bridge the divide and reach a negotiated resolution to the conflict.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has directed the military to intensify its campaign against Iran’s weapons infrastructure, ordering that as much of the country’s arms industry as possible be destroyed within 48 hours, according to a report published Tuesday by The New York Times.

The directive came after Netanyahu reviewed a copy of the United States’ proposed 15-point framework aimed at ending the war, the report said.

Responding on Monday to President Trump’s comments about ongoing contacts with Iranian officials, Netanyahu made clear that Israel would continue acting to protect its own security interests regardless of any diplomatic developments involving Washington.

“Earlier today, I spoke with our friend, President Trump. He believes there is an opportunity to leverage the tremendous achievements of the IDF and the US military in order to achieve the objectives of the war through an agreement that will preserve our vital interests,” Netanyahu said.

He added, “At the same time, we continue to strike both in Iran and in Lebanon, dismantling the missile and nuclear program piece by piece, and continuing to deal severe blows to Hezbollah.”

“Just a few days ago, we eliminated two more nuclear scientists, and more actions are forthcoming. We will safeguard our vital interests under all circumstances,” the Prime Minister concluded.

Meanwhile, Reuters and The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Iran has rejected the American proposal and has reverted to its earlier demands—conditions Washington had already dismissed before the war began.

Iranian officials also publicly derided the diplomatic effort. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guard’s emergency command, mocked the U.S. president’s approach, saying he is “negotiating with himself.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Knesset has taken a significant step toward regulating the massive Lag BaOmer gathering in Meron, as the National Security Committee approved legislation on Wednesday aimed at ensuring a safer and more orderly event in 2026.

The bill, which passed through the committee chaired by MK Zvika Fogel of Otzma Yehudit, will now move forward to its final readings. Drafted as a temporary measure, the legislation is intended to provide clear structure and oversight for the annual pilgrimage, which attracts hundreds of thousands of participants each year. It establishes tighter safety protocols and new limitations designed to maintain order and prevent dangerous overcrowding.

Communications Minister Dr. Shlomo Karhi, who has been tasked with overseeing this year’s event, expressed appreciation to MK Zvika Fogel and MK Meir Porush of United Torah Judaism for pushing the legislation forward. “This law will allow us to hold a safe and joyful event for the people of Israel,” Karhi said.

Fogel underscored that the primary goal of the measure is to impose organization and accountability on the large-scale gathering. “The purpose of this law is to bring order, establish clear boundaries, and ensure that the pilgrimage takes place safely. Our first and foremost responsibility is to protect human life.”

MK Meir Porush, who previously oversaw the event in his role as Minister of Yerushalayim Affairs and Jewish Tradition, also welcomed the progress of the bill and commended both Karhi and Fogel. “This is an important and central step in the preparations for the celebration,” he said, adding that he hopes the security situation will permit the pilgrimage to be held with both joy and safety.

The Lag BaOmer event in Meron is among the largest yearly gatherings in Israel. Following the 2021 disaster, in which 45 people lost their lives in a crowd crush, authorities have implemented increasingly strict safety measures and closer supervision in an effort to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.

{Matzav.com}

After nearly 20 years of legal battles, families of victims of Iranian-backed terrorism are set to receive compensation from a Manhattan office tower that had long generated income tied to the Iranian regime, despite outstanding court judgments, JTA reports.

On Monday, as fighting between Israel and Iran continues, a $318 million agreement was finalized, directing proceeds from the building’s sale to hundreds of victims. Those eligible for compensation include Jewish and Israeli families who lost relatives in attacks linked to Iran, both in Israel and abroad.

The dispute revolved around hidden Iranian ownership interests in 650 Fifth Avenue, a high-rise office building in Manhattan. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran assumed control of the Alavi Foundation, originally established under the shah, and entered into a partnership with Bank Melli Iran, a state-owned financial institution under U.S. sanctions.

Through a network of front companies, the bank allegedly funneled tens of millions of dollars in rental revenue back to Tehran while concealing its stake in the property, in violation of American sanctions laws.

Among those who will benefit from the settlement are families and estates connected to the 2001 bombing of the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem, which left 15 people dead and more than 100 wounded. That attack, carried out by Hamas with Iranian backing, was among the most devastating suicide bombings during the Second Intifada.

The compensation also extends to victims of other suicide bombings targeting Israeli civilians in the 1990s and early 2000s, as well as to the family of Rabbi Meir Kahane, who was murdered in 1990.

For years, victims of terrorism obtained default judgments against Iran in U.S. courts, but those rulings went unpaid. As a result, plaintiffs were forced to pursue Iranian-linked assets within the United States. The broader litigation involved claims totaling more than $5 billion, including those brought by families of victims killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

US Attorney Jay Clayton said the outcome reflects years of persistent effort to locate and secure those assets.

“For nearly two decades, we pursued hidden Iranian government assets tied to a Manhattan skyscraper to ensure those funds would ultimately compensate victims of Iran-sponsored terrorism rather than terrorists and their enablers,” Clayton said in a statement.

As part of the agreement, the Alavi Foundation will be dismantled, and its holdings — including the Fifth Avenue property — will be transferred to a newly created nonprofit organization known as the Amir Kabir Foundation. The new group will operate under oversight from U.S. authorities, with governing rules requiring it to remain independent of any government influence.

Hundreds of weddings were thrown into last-minute disarray after two major event halls in Bnei Brak were ordered closed, requiring couples to urgently find alternative venues.

Tel Aviv District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Chaim Sargrof, signed closure orders for the Dekel and Heichlei Malchus event halls after police alleged that the venues had employed and housed a total of nine illegal residents in violation of the law.

The action comes as part of a focused police campaign targeting offenses related to employing, transporting, and sheltering individuals residing in Israel illegally. Officers from the Bnei Brak–Ramat Gan station in the Dan region of the Tel Aviv District have been carrying out intensified inspections at businesses and construction sites where such individuals are suspected to be present, with the stated goal of safeguarding public safety.

Approximately three days prior, police conducted a business licensing operation during which inspections were carried out at several event halls in Bnei Brak. At the Dekel Hall on Ezra Street, officers located two illegal residents from the Palestinian territories who did not have valid permits to remain in Israel. At Heichlei Malchus on Shlomo Hamelech Street, police found seven individuals in similar circumstances.

According to police, in both locations the individuals were not only employed unlawfully but were also being housed on-site. The suspects were taken into custody, and the employers were questioned under caution by investigators at the Bnei Brak–Ramat Gan police station.

Following the investigation, licensing enforcement officers in the Dan region, together with local police, moved to shut down the halls. The Tel Aviv District commander issued administrative closure orders for a period of 30 days, effective from February 23, 2025, through March 24, 2025. The investigation into the employers is ongoing.

{Matzav.com}

The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Yisroel Hager, is expected to return to Eretz Yisroel this week after undergoing a significant medical procedure in Germany and spending several days recuperating in Switzerland.

The Rebbe, who is currently resting in Davos, is scheduled to arrive in Israel ahead of Thursday. On Thursday night, he is expected to lead a tish at the main Vizhnitzer beis medrash in Bnei Brak in honor of the yahrtzeit of his grandfather, the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz.

Last week, the Rebbe successfully underwent a critical medical procedure at a hospital in Munich that lasted approximately three hours. Doctors expressed strong satisfaction with the initial results, and members of the Vizhnitzer community received the news with relief while continuing to daven for his full recovery.

Initially, plans called for the Rebbe to return to Israel before last Shabbos. However, following consultations with doctors, it was decided that he would remain in Munich for Shabbos, staying in a rented apartment, and delay his return.

Those plans later changed again, and the Rebbe traveled to Davos for Shabbos. Throughout this period, he has been accompanied by his grandson, Rabbi Lipa Hager, son of the Av Beis Din of Kiryat Vizhnitz, who has been overseeing his medical care. His son, Rav Yaakov Mordechai Hager, also succeeded in traveling from Israel to spend Shabbos with him in Switzerland.

{Matzav.com}