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Iranian officials have conveyed to the Trump administration that they are unwilling to resume negotiations with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, instead indicating a preference to deal with Vice President JD Vance, according to two regional sources who spoke with CNN on Tuesday.

The communication, delivered through indirect diplomatic channels, reflects Tehran’s view that talks involving Witkoff and Kushner would likely be unproductive. Iranian leaders reportedly believe that trust has eroded following the collapse of earlier negotiations that preceded military action by Israel and the United States.

Sources said that Vance is seen differently by Iranian officials. Compared to Witkoff, Kushner, and even Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he is perceived as more inclined toward ending the conflict.

“The perception is that Vance would be intent on wrapping up the conflict,” one of the sources told CNN.

At the same time, regional observers acknowledge that involving Vance carries its own challenges, noting that reaching a resolution to the conflict would be complex and difficult regardless of who leads the talks.

Despite Iran’s stated preferences, Witkoff continues to play a central role in U.S. diplomatic efforts. The sources added that Tehran may ultimately have little choice but to negotiate with whichever representatives are appointed by the Trump administration.

Reports surfaced last week claiming that a direct line of communication between Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had been reopened. However, Araghchi publicly rejected that assertion.

Witkoff recently disclosed that during discussions over a potential nuclear agreement, Iranian officials claimed they had the capability to produce 11 nuclear weapons.

In an appearance on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Witkoff also said it was evident from those discussions that Iran had no real intention of reaching an agreement.

Earlier Tuesday, President Donald Trump stated that all senior members of his diplomatic team are taking part in the ongoing negotiations.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the decision over who represents the United States rests solely with the president.

“President Trump and only President Trump determines who negotiates on behalf of the United States. As the President stated today, Vice President Vance, Secretary Rubio, Special Envoy Witkoff, and Mr. Kushner will all be involved,” Leavitt said.

Looking ahead, a potential meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials later this week in Islamabad remains under consideration. However, even those supporting the idea are doubtful that it will ultimately take place, according to the sources.

In a separate report, Axios indicated that Iranian officials have told mediating countries that they feel they have already been misled twice by Trump and are wary of repeating that experience, saying “we don’t want to be fooled again.”

{Matzav.com}

A political and religious dispute intensified following the Knesset’s approval of a law expanding the authority of rabbinical courts, after former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett vowed to repeal the legislation if he returns to power.

The law, which passed its second and third readings in the Knesset plenum, allows rabbinical courts to adjudicate financial disputes as arbitrators with the consent of both parties. Bennett sharply criticized the measure, labeling it a “disgrace law” and declaring that he would act to overturn it immediately upon forming a new government, warning against what he described as the creation of “a state within a state.”

MK Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, responded forcefully to Bennett’s remarks, calling them an embarrassment and defending the law as a measure that simply grants individuals the option to resolve disputes according to Torah law. He argued that the legislation respects both the Jewish and democratic character of the state. “It would be appropriate for opposition leaders to first focus on building public trust before making declarations about repealing laws in a desperate attempt to stand out,” Gafni said.

Gafni also pointed out that earlier proponents of similar legislation included prominent figures from the religious Zionist camp, such as Rabbi Yitzhak Levy and Rabbi Zevulun Orlev, who come from the same ideological background as Bennett. He compared the current opposition to past resistance against legislation regulating chametz in hospitals, arguing that it reflects an ongoing anti-Jewish agenda presented under the guise of democracy.

According to Gafni, Bennett is deliberately misleading the public about the nature of the law, emphasizing that it is based solely on voluntary consent and does not impose religious adjudication on anyone. He reiterated his criticism, stating: “It would be appropriate for opposition leaders to first focus on building public trust and bringing in voters, before making declarations about future coalitions and repealing laws, in a desperate attempt to stand out within the opposition bloc.”

{Matzav.com}

A wave of online speculation has erupted after a resurfaced social media post claimed to predict the death of King Charles III, following an earlier accurate prediction of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.

The renewed attention centers on a screenshot of a tweet from June 2022 attributed to a user named Logan Smith, who appeared to list two significant dates concerning the British royal family. The first prediction stated that Queen Elizabeth II would die on September 8, 2022—a claim that was later fulfilled, drawing widespread attention at the time. Now, focus has shifted to the second part of the post, which references the current monarch.

According to the same tweet, posted approximately three months before the Queen’s death, King Charles III is predicted to die this coming Shabbos, March 28, 2026. The specific date has fueled intense discussion online, particularly among conspiracy theorists and followers of the royal family, especially in light of recent disclosures regarding the king’s health.

The original tweet, dated June 7, 2022, has garnered tens of thousands of shares and likes, becoming a major topic of conversation in the UK ahead of the weekend. Some users describe the prediction as an eerie coincidence or an example of highly improbable guesswork, while others question the authenticity of the screenshot, suggesting it may have been altered after the fact to generate panic.

Buckingham Palace has not issued any official response to the circulating claims, and the king’s schedule continues as planned for now. Despite skepticism surrounding the prediction, many are watching closely to see whether the claim proves accurate or is ultimately dismissed as baseless online rumor.

King Charles is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, a condition publicly disclosed by Buckingham Palace in early February 2024. According to the official statement at the time, the illness was discovered during a medical procedure.

Since then, the king has begun a course of regular treatment. While continuing to carry out his constitutional duties behind the scenes—including weekly meetings with the British prime minister and handling state documents—he has significantly reduced his public appearances in accordance with medical advice.

{Matzav.com}

A controversial bill mandating the death penalty for terrorists moved a step closer to becoming law overnight after the Knesset’s National Security Committee approved it for its second and third readings, clearing more than 2,000 objections along the way.

The legislation, a central component of coalition agreements involving the Otzma Yehudit party, stipulates that a terrorist responsible for the killing of an Israeli civilian with intent to harm the state would be sentenced to death by hanging.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed the development, saying: “The death penalty law for terrorists is the most important law the Knesset has enacted in recent years, and it is meant to protect our children. With G-d’s help, we will fully implement this law and kill our enemies.”

Under the proposed law, a distinction is made between cases inside Israel’s pre-1967 borders and those in Judea and Samaria. In the latter, military courts would be authorized to impose the death penalty as the default sentence, unless special reasons are found to instead issue life imprisonment. Committee chairman MK Tzvika Fogel stressed the deterrent effect of the measure, stating: “The bill approved today is a significant step in restoring deterrence. Anyone who comes to murder Jews as an act of terror—his blood is on his own head.”

MK Limor Son Har-Melech added: “This law is uniquely Jewish and moral,” while MK Avichai Boaron said the Likud party is proud to be part of the initiative. Meanwhile, MK Oded Forer of Yisrael Beytenu called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show up for the decisive Knesset vote and not avoid taking a position.

Opposition lawmakers strongly criticized the legislation. MK Gilad Kariv described it as “a pathetic election campaign” and warned of serious consequences for Israel’s ability to negotiate future hostage deals. “This is an extreme bill with moral flaws and security foolishness that will only increase bargaining and revenge attacks,” Kariv said.

Legal advisers to the committee also raised concerns, including the absence of a mechanism for granting clemency, which they noted could conflict with international agreements.

Despite support from right-wing lawmakers, the bill is expected to face significant legal challenges, with Israel’s Supreme Court likely to have the final say on its constitutionality.

{Matzav.com}