“Iran always lies”: Netanyahu adviser dismisses peace talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s foreign policy adviser, Ophir Falk, has expressed deep scepticism about Iran’s willingness to negotiate an end to the war.

“Well, Iran always lies. We’ve learned that they always lie,” Falk said in an interview with CNN’s Jim Sciutto, when asked why Israel doubts Tehran’s intentions.

While the White House has claimed discussions with Iran are continuing apace – despite Tehran not immediately accepting a 15-point plan to end the war, Iran has cast doubt on the level of its engagement. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that messages had been exchanged through “friendly countries” but these did not amount to negotiations.

Falk said Israel’s primary goal was to “remove the existential threat posed by this ayatollah regime.”

He described three potential paths to Israel’s goal: removing the regime itself, severely weakening Iran’s military capabilities, or pursuing diplomacy.

“The best way of doing that is to remove the regime,” he said. “Another way … is to decimate their military capabilities until they get to the stone age… more or less a third way … is by negotiations.”

Falk emphasised that Israel does not see these options as mutually exclusive.

“To the contrary, we can do all three at once, and that’s what we’re doing now.”