Israel said to convey message to Iran it is looking to end war within days

After Sunday’s US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Israel is looking to end its bombing campaign against the Islamic Republic, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing Israeli and Arab officials.

According to Channel 12, Israel believes it will reach its military objectives for Operation Rising Lion — removing the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile threat from Israel — in the next few days.

Arab officials tell The Journal that the US has told Arab partners to pass the message to Iran that Israel is looking to wrap up the operation soon. However, according to the officials, Iran still feels it has to respond to US strikes on Sunday.

Yesterday, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel that Jerusalem is willing to end the bombing campaign if Iran agrees to dismantle its nuclear program. “It depends on Iran, not on us,” says the official. “We are happy to wrap it up now; if there’s an agreement at the end, Israel will be content with the result.”

There are two options for ending the campaign itself, reports Channel 12: Israel can unilaterally declare it has achieved its war aims, and Iran ends its missile strikes; or the US announces that both sides have agreed to a ceasefire, something Israel sees as less desirable.

If Iran does not stop firing at Israel, Walla notes, Israel will intensify its strikes with a focus on undermining the regime. Today’s strikes on regime targets in the heart of Tehran were meant to preview what Israel may do if Iran doesn’t agree to stop firing at Israel, according to the outlet.

Citing security sources, Walla reports that Israel believes Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is the main obstacle to Iran agreeing to end the fighting.

Israeli officials tell The Journal that they hope the American and Israeli strikes will push Iran back to the negotiating table, where it will ultimately accept an end to its nuclear program. If Israel determines that Tehran is trying to rebuild it, the Israeli officials add, it will send the air force in to strike again.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was very close to achieving its goals in Iran, having inflicted significant damage both to the ballistic missile program and nuclear facilities.

He promised not to let Israel be dragged into a “war of attrition” with the Islamic Republic, but stressed that this did not mean he would be prepared to end the campaign before all its objectives had been met.