'There's a reason we left Pezeshkian, Araghchi alive'

2026-03-25 - 17:35

Even before Iran's formal reply arrived, reports distributed through regime-aligned media channels in Tehran – rejecting the American proposal and laying out brazen Iranian counter-conditions – have returned the conflict to its baseline. Neither Jerusalem nor the majority of those involved in Washington were particularly surprised by the Iranian position. Israeli officials had assessed that the regime would never accept the unconditional surrender terms Washington had dispatched, and the White House understood that Tehran viewed the proposal as cover and a deception ahead of an imminent ground offensive. A Western diplomatic source told Israel Hayom that despite what appeared to be a categorical rejection from Iran, communication channels must be kept open for the moment when someone within the regime steps forward to lead the country toward an end to the war before the government faces complete collapse. The message relayed to whoever remained of the Iranian leadership, the source said, was that President Trump was determined to press forward despite the closure of Hormuz and to complete the war's full objectives. "They probably don't believe that message and think Trump will tire of it and walk away – but that option doesn't appear to be on the table right now. As far as the White House is concerned, the war can continue for many more weeks." US President Donald Trump (Photo: AP) The source restated the war's foundational goals, without which, in the source's assessment, the fighting will not end: complete closure of Iran's nuclear program – every facility, every storage site, and all the uranium. All uranium enriched to weapons-grade levels – approximately 460 kilograms (about 1,014 pounds) – will no longer be accessible to Iran, and every plant linked to the program will be shut down. This position of the Trump administration has drawn, beyond the expected Israeli support, full backing from all the Gulf states. In conversations held in recent days between the White House and the US State Department on one side and Gulf leaders and their ambassadors in Washington on the other, a nearly uniform Arab position was expressed: the campaign must be seen through to the end – meaning the complete removal of the Iranian threat to regional states, to oil industries, and to shipping through the strait. Iran's demand to receive a form of "sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz" and to levy a transit tax has been regarded in the Gulf states as brazen and a violation of international law, of the arrangements, and of the norms that have governed the Gulf for decades. What is notable about this Gulf position is the joining of Oman alongside its Arab neighbors, after Oman itself sustained damage from Iranian missile and drone fire, and in the wake of Iran's demand for ownership of Hormuz. Israel Hayom has learned that these messages were conveyed to Trump over the past two days, including directly from at least two of those nations' leaders – Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, and Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani. Despite the Iranian response as distributed through regime sources to various media outlets, it can actually be read as a form of public negotiation. The Iranians did not mention the nuclear issue or the missile issue in their published demands – two points that appear in the American document. Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz (Photo: AFP) Those demands focused primarily on a ceasefire across all fronts and guarantees that it would not resume. In other words, they were almost pleading for a pause, presenting it as the central issue, without repeating the mantras about their right to enrich uranium and to defend themselves with missiles. The current expectation is that the pounding of targets in Iran will continue, with emphasis on two main priorities: striking missile and drone launchers to bring launch capabilities down to a minimum, and continuing the targeted killings – a mission assigned primarily to Israel. The first mission has reached its most difficult phase. The number of launchers has indeed dropped to the dozens, but these are the most camouflaged and best-protected, located inside underground missile cities that contain numerous hidden launch tunnels. Meanwhile, even before a formal Iranian response to the negotiations arrived, during discussions between Israel and the United States, both sides again agreed that Israel would be free to continue striking Iran so long as Iran threatens it, and so long as there is no comprehensive arrangement that neutralizes Iran's offensive capabilities against Israel – including its nuclear program, its missiles, and its operation of regional terrorism. One further detail illuminates American policy: on Tuesday, it was reported that Foreign Minister Araghchi and President Pezeshkian had been granted immunity to conduct negotiations this week. Israel Hayom has learned that both men – along with a handful of other regime figures – have in fact enjoyed this immunity since the first day of the war, in order to preserve the possibility of dialogue with regime elements capable of bringing the war to an end. An IDF strike on Tehran (Photo: Arab media) "If we managed to eliminate the entire military leadership, Khamenei and many of his ministers, Larijani and many others, it's obvious we could have gotten Pezeshkian and Araghchi too – and more easily," said a security source with direct knowledge of how the war is being managed. The problem that remains is the two men's ability to control the other elements of the regime – the Revolutionary Guards commanders who, in practice, run the war and set policy - despite sharp internal criticism within the regime and even within the Guards themselves. The internal dispute is widening the phenomenon of desertion, primarily from the army but also from the Guards and within the Basij. Contributing to this is the fact that the majority of personnel have not received salaries, except for a holiday bonus transferred last week.