Israel sceptical of immediate ceasefire with Iran

A deal to end the Iran war “does not appear to be tangible right now,” said an Israeli official on March 23, as Israel’s military continued to carry out strikes in Iran and Lebanon.

“The Iranians do not appear to be in any concession mode - we are not there yet,” the official said, suggesting that the purported negotiations are a tactic to buy time to better prepare for further military strikes, CNN reports.

The official acknowledged there are several countries attempting to mediate between the US and Iran, “but as far as we know, (there is) no concrete proposal on the table yet.”

On the morning of March 24, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz made clear that Israel has not stopped its bombing campaign in Iran.

“We continue striking Iran with full force,” said Katz at a situational assessment. The Israeli military said last week that they have “thousands of targets” left in Iran and plans for at least several more weeks of war.

Katz’s comments about continuing the war contrast with President Donald Trump’s stated intent to negotiate an end to the conflict. “They want to settle, and we’re going to get it done,” Trump told a crowd in Memphis, Tennessee on March 23.