Israeli officials question endless Iran war, seek exit strategies

A growing number of senior Israeli officials are expressing concern over the open-ended military campaign against Iran, signaling a desire to explore exit strategies that could prevent further regional damage and global economic disruption, The Washington Post reports.

The decision to continue or halt the attacks largely rests with US President Donald Trump, who continues to advocate for an all-out victory, according to a senior Israeli official familiar with Iran war planning. Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, the official said discussions are underway about alternatives to Trump’s call for “unconditional surrender.”

“Of course, we wish to topple the regime, but that’s not the only endgame,” the official explained. “Once the major military targets have been eliminated, Israel would have achieved its goals. Iran won’t surrender, but it can send messages to accept a ceasefire with US conditions.”

Trump’s approach has shifted between seeking a negotiated settlement with regime moderates and demanding total surrender, citing the deaths of his preferred negotiating partners. Similarly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on pressing forward to what he called the “moment of truth.”

The announcement that Iran’s new supreme leader will be Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the former head of state killed in a massive airstrike on February 28, has intensified concerns. The official described Mojtaba as a hard-liner, even closer to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps than his father, and unlikely to negotiate.

Officials are worried about the mounting costs of the war — from Iranian missile attacks on Gulf states to rising oil and natural gas prices that could destabilize the global economy — as well as the political risk for Trump, who lacks broad domestic support for the conflict. “I’m not sure it’s in our interest to fight until the regime is toppled,” the official said. “Nobody wants a never-ending story.”

The Israeli official noted that the bombing campaign has nearly achieved its military objectives, including crippling Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile inventories, weapons-making factories, and top tiers of military, intelligence, and internal security forces.

While Netanyahu has called for further destabilization of the Iranian regime, some defense officials remain cautious, drawing parallels to past operations in Gaza, where prolonged combat lacked a clearly defined endgame.

Additional concerns include the risk of being drawn into a larger ground operation in Lebanon against Hezbollah. “We don’t want to be dragged into the quagmire,” the official said, while noting limited Israeli troop activity near the southern border to target remnants of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. “We are willing to engage with Lebanese officials to reach agreement on a ceasefire,” he added.

Another priority is maintaining strong relations with the United States. “We won’t drag the US into an endless war. Israel is a reliable ally, not a burden,” the official said.

Trump has set his sights on the annihilation of the Iranian regime and envisions a new Iran reflecting modernity and freedom, yet critics question the feasibility of this vision and the absence of a clear plan to achieve it. “Tell me how this ends?” the official asked, echoing a question first posed during the Iraq War.

By Vafa Guliyeva