Iran signals willing to ease tensions with Israel - report
By Josh White
Date: Monday 16 Jun 2025
(Sharecast News) - Iran has signalled a desire to ease tensions with Israel and resume nuclear negotiations, provided the United States stays out of the escalating conflict, according to an exclusive report by the Wall Street Journal on Monday.
Tehran had reportedly conveyed messages through Arab intermediaries indicating it was open to talks if Washington refrained from joining Israel's ongoing military campaign.
Iranian officials told Arab counterparts that both sides should work to contain the violence, the WSJ said.
However, Israel was continuing its air assault, apparently emboldened by minimal Iranian retaliation and the opportunity to weaken Iran's nuclear infrastructure and leadership.
The Israeli air campaign had reportedly killed several senior Iranian military figures, including much of the air force's leadership, leaving supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei politically isolated.
While Israel's strikes had so far done limited damage to Iran's nuclear facilities, officials in Jerusalem insisted they would continue until the country's nuclear and missile capabilities were dismantled.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly said that while regime change was not the objective, it could be a consequence of Iran's growing vulnerability.
Israel is believed to have at least two more weeks of air strikes planned, the WSJ added, with regional and global leaders urging restraint.
French president Emmanuel Macron and multiple Arab leaders had called for renewed diplomacy.
Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump, while previously reluctant to engage militarily, had publicly supported Israel's actions.
Iran's leaders appeared to be banking on the idea that Israel lacked a long-term strategy for the conflict and would be forced to seek a diplomatic solution.
According to Arab diplomats, Tehran was pressing for assurances that the US would not enter the fight directly, the WSJ reported, particularly given Israel's limited ability to target deeply buried sites such as the Fordow enrichment facility without American support.
Despite the overtures, Iran had made no indication it was prepared to offer fresh concessions.
Talks led by the US had stalled over Iran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment prior to last week's attacks.
Israeli officials said any future agreement would need to begin with a total end to enrichment and address Iran's missile programme and support for regional militias.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
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