Last night was quiet between the U.S. and Iran following two days of retaliatory strikes, as a U.S. official in Washington said diplomacy may once again take the lead. Ynet reports that mediators have been working to prevent what many feared could become a renewed war with Iran. It was also reported that Israel had prepared for the possibility of renewed fighting, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz canceling their appearances at a military ceremony on Wednesday. Iran has since issued new threats against both the United States and Israel.
The renewed diplomatic contacts come as Iran’s leadership continues to reject compromise on any of its demands, raising questions over what happens next in what increasingly appears to be a deadlock. Even before renewed nuclear talks have begun, the two sides have failed to agree on the implementation of a memorandum of understanding that has already been signed. Trump said this week that, in his view, the memorandum is no longer valid.
“If Mr. Trump and his aides now have a Plan C — after bombing and a preliminary accord failed — they have not described it,” New York Times columnist David Sanger wrote in an analysis of what he described as Trump’s current predicament.
“Instead, it appears that they are returning to the oil sanctions and bombing runs that Mr. Trump describes as devastating, but that so far have only led to the current tangle,” Sanger wrote. He was referring, among other things, to the administration’s decision to revoke Iran’s oil sanctions waiver under the memorandum of understanding, although Trump has not, for now, reinstated a naval blockade.
Before Iran’s latest threats, Israeli officials said the IDF was neither planning nor expecting to become directly involved in the exchanges between the U.S. and Iran. Military intelligence had also assessed that Iranian strikes against Israel were not expected during the past two days. That assessment could change, however, after Iran warned that Israel would not be spared in any future attacks.
Jerusalem has also said that if President Trump requests assistance, the IDF will support the United States. Meanwhile, the IDF has continued counterterror operations in Gaza and southern Lebanon, killing a Hamas commander and uncovering Hezbollah weapons facilities.
The Fellowship and our supporters continue to pray for God’s protection over both Israel and the U.S.
