The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran may be nearing a turning point as the United States has reportedly urged Israel to halt attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure, signalling possible efforts to wind down the war.
According to a report by Axios on Tuesday, Washington conveyed the message to Israeli leadership at a senior political level as well as to Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. The request reportedly came from the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Why are chances of the conflict ending so high?
The report said the US outlined three reasons for the request, including the possibility of future cooperation with Iran’s oil sector once hostilities end. The move is being interpreted by analysts as a sign that Washington is preparing for a post-war regional arrangement.
At the same time, the White House confirmed that the US military has begun operations aimed at dismantling Iran’s missile production capabilities, a step officials say is designed to limit Tehran’s ability to continue large-scale attacks.
Despite these signals, the conflict remains intense on the ground. Israel announced plans to allocate tens of billions of shekels in additional defence spending to sustain its aerial campaign against Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the cabinet would soon approve a “special war investment” to finance the ongoing air war.
Meanwhile, diplomatic activity has also intensified. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a detailed conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi regarding the developments in the escalating West Asia conflict.
Threat still looms
However, Iran signalled that it is not yet ready to back down. Araghchi said Tehran would continue fighting “as long as necessary”, casting doubt on President Trump’s assertion that the war could end soon.
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Iran also expanded its military pressure across the Gulf, launching fresh attacks on regional states including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. At the same time, more than 20 heavy explosions were reported in Tehran as strikes intensified.
US defence officials warned that operations targeting Iran could soon reach their highest intensity since the conflict began, even as diplomatic signals suggest growing efforts to bring the war to an end.
