Iran-Israel Conflict: War Continues Amidst Failed Talks & New Strikes
Amidst calls for dialogue, escalating threats and mounting casualties, the conflict in the Middle East continues. Whereas U.S. President Donald Trump asserted on Thursday that Iran is “begging” for a deal to end the war, Israel has carried out another targeted killing. This time, the target was Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), whom Israel holds responsible for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The strike against Tangsiri comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to underscore “coordination” and “shared objectives” with Washington, particularly as he fears Trump may unilaterally declare a ceasefire that Israel does not desire. Netanyahu announced the strike against Tangsiri, framing it as a demonstration of this alignment.
The fighting has entered its fourth week, unfolding in parallel with diplomatic efforts. Israel has launched a wave of airstrikes focused on Isfahan, while Tehran has fired as many as seven salvos of missiles towards Israel in recent hours, triggering more frequent alerts in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Activists report that over 3,000 people have been killed in Iran as a result of the conflict.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed on Thursday that his country is acting as an intermediary – alongside Turkey and Egypt – between the U.S. And Iran. The mediators are attempting to capitalize on momentum and organize a meeting this week to overcome Iran’s initial rejection of the U.S. Proposal, which is reportedly more stringent than previous offers. Despite the significant distance between the positions of Washington and Tehran, and the existing distrust, this represents the first potential pathway towards a negotiated end – or at least a pause – to the conflict.
Iran, now led by more hardline elements following the killing of more pragmatic leaders by the U.S. And Israel, appears to view itself as the victor in the conflict and is presenting maximalist proposals to bring it to a close. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi signaled this stance on Wednesday, stating, “The messages transmitted through our friendly countries, and our response by stating our positions or issuing the necessary warnings, are not called negotiation or dialogue. Currently, our policy is to continue resistance and defend the country, and we have no intention of negotiating.”
Trump presents a starkly different picture. In a post on his social media platform, Truth, on Thursday, he claimed Iran has been “militarily annihilated, with no chance of recovery” and is “begging” for a deal. He described his negotiators as “exceptionally different and strange,” before issuing a threat: “They better take this seriously soon, before it is too late, given that once that happens, there will be no turning back, and things will not look good.”
Israel has reportedly removed Araqchi and the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, from its list of targets, according to Reuters. This request came from Pakistan, as these two individuals are considered the most experienced and pragmatic interlocutors available. Since the conflict began on , Israel has also killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Ali Larijani – a key figure in the regime – and the top officials of the Basij militia, Gholamreza Soleimani, and Intelligence, Esmail Khatib.
Israel is reportedly giving limited chances to the dialogue, and has not yet fully activated its alert systems. According to local media, Israel intends to continue military operations at least until , even if it fails to achieve its initial goal of toppling the regime.
The killing of Tangsiri in Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz, is being presented as a message of continued military action. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated, in reference to the IRGC, “The Israel Defense Forces will pursue and eliminate them one after another.”