Israeli media reported on Friday that the United States has granted Israel a one week deadline to end the war against Iran, as Tel Aviv prepares to target Iranian nuclear sites while Tehran insists on continuing the conflict.
The Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom cited a senior political source in the Middle East, whose identity was not disclosed, stating that Washington wants the military campaign against Iran to conclude and has given Israel only one week to complete it.
So far, no official American or Israeli statement has been issued regarding the reported deadline.
The political source indicated that changing the regime in Tehran is unlikely, explaining that such a transformation would require either a ground invasion or the re emergence of widespread protests within Iran, something he considered improbable in the near future, according to Israel Hayom.
He added that there is a significant gap between the perspectives of the United States and Israel regarding the war. Officials in Washington are reportedly concerned about the war’s impact on global oil prices, while Israel views the conflict as an achievement and celebrates it.
Referring to the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and its possible impact on the Iranian system, the source noted that despite Israel’s assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the party he led still exists, as does the Hamas movement.
Determination to Continue the War
Regarding the Iranian position, Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf stated that “the war will continue until the enemy’s calculations change and it is forced to regret its actions.”
He added that Iran no longer distinguishes between the United States and Israel regarding what he described as their crimes.
Qalibaf further claimed that US President Donald Trump had been deceived by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into launching the war, asserting that Trump is now acting under Netanyahu’s influence.
Targeting Nuclear Sites
In a related development, an Israeli official revealed that Tel Aviv intends to launch additional strikes on nuclear related targets and facilities in Iran in the near future, according to Israel’s public broadcasting authority.
The official stated that the ongoing attacks aim to weaken Iran’s military capabilities and noted that thousands of targets inside the country remain available for potential strikes.
On Thursday, the Israeli army announced that it had attacked a site in Iran it claimed was linked to the development of nuclear weapons.
In a statement, the Israeli military said its air force struck an additional site in Tehran associated with Iran’s nuclear programme, identified as the Talqan facility, which it alleged had been used by the Iranian government to develop critical capabilities related to nuclear weapons development.
The army added that the site had been used for years to develop advanced explosive materials and to conduct sensitive experiments within the framework of the Amad project, described as a secret nuclear weapons development programme.
Iran did not immediately issue an official statement regarding the reported strike on the Talqan nuclear site. However, Iran’s representative to the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Reza Najafi, stated that ongoing American Israeli air strikes had targeted the Natanz nuclear facility on March 2, although neither Washington nor Tel Aviv confirmed that claim.
Destroying Military Capabilities
Israel’s public broadcasting authority also reported that the Israeli and American militaries are currently focusing on destroying Iran’s military capabilities, including facilities used for producing and launching ballistic missiles, as well as targeting Iran’s military industries.
The broadcaster added that Israeli assessments indicate the Iranian government remains in power despite two weeks of intensive strikes that involved dropping approximately 18,000 munitions on targets inside the country.
Since February 28, Israel and the United States have been waging war against Iran, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,332 people, including the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and leaving more than 15,000 others injured.
Tehran has responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel, killing at least 14 people and injuring 2,745 others. Additional attacks have killed at least seven American soldiers and injured 140.
Iran has also targeted Gulf countries, Iraq, and Jordan, claiming to strike American military bases located there. However, Iranian strikes have also hit energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, resulting in deaths and injuries in those countries, actions condemned by the United Nations Security Council.
