Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered Israeli commanders to destroy as many high-value Iranian targets as possible within 48 hours, amid deepening alarm within the Israeli government that Donald Trump could reach a ceasefire deal with Tehran before Israel’s core war objectives are achieved.
The deadline was issued from Netanyahu’s Tel Aviv bunker after he reviewed Trump’s proposed 15-point peace framework, which Israeli officials present at the meeting described as insufficiently robust in curbing Iran’s military capabilities despite its restrictions on missiles and nuclear development. Sources described the atmosphere in the underground meeting as “tense.”
Israel’s war aims centre on three objectives: eliminating Iran’s ballistic missile stockpile, preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear warhead, and creating conditions for the Iranian population to remove the Islamic regime from within. “If you do not obtain the three objectives, you will not be able to end the war,” said Boaz Bismuth, a member of Netanyahu’s party. The Trump administration has quietly moved away from the regime-change goal after strikes on senior Iranian leadership failed to topple the government.
Iran’s state media confirmed on Wednesday that the regime had rejected the US peace proposal. Rather than accepting Trump’s framework — which would require Iran to dismantle nuclear and long-range missile capabilities, open the Strait of Hormuz and sever ties with proxy groups — Tehran is demanding the closure of all US military bases in the Gulf, financial reparations and an end to Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran is also seeking control of the Strait of Hormuz, with the ability to charge transit fees on vessels passing through, similar to Egypt’s arrangement with the Suez Canal.
A Trump official described Iran’s counter-demands as “ridiculous” and “unrealistic.” The US and Iran are not in direct diplomatic contact, communicating instead through intermediaries from Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan. Iranian officials have expressed wariness toward Trump envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, accusing them of acting in bad faith ahead of the February 28 strikes, and are pushing for Vice President JD Vance to lead negotiations, believing he harbours reservations about the conflict.
Saudi Arabia has made clear it opposes any arrangement that would hand Iran control of the Strait, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly urging Trump in multiple calls over the past week to press ahead, including potentially using ground forces to seize Iranian energy infrastructure.
With diplomacy faltering, the Pentagon has ordered around 2,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the region, joining approximately 4,500 Marines already en route. A Trump aide told Axios the President’s approach was straightforward: “Trump has a hand open for a deal, and the other is a fist, waiting to punch you in the face.”
