Israeli report says Trump is threatening Iran publicly but pursuing negotiations

US President Donald Trump has continued to issue public threats against Iran in an attempt to pressure Tehran into negotiations, with the aim of reaching an agreement on strict American terms, according to an Israeli report.

However, based on Trump’s statements over the past 24 hours, he appears more focused on negotiations than on launching military action, according to the report. It said Trump wants any talks with Iran to include restrictions on ballistic missile production, an end to Iran’s nuclear programme, and a halt to its support for allied groups in the Arab world.

Alon Ben-Yishai, military commentator for Yedioth Ahronoth, wrote that Iranian statements also suggest difficult negotiations are under way between Tehran and Washington aimed at opening dialogue on key issues, with Saudi Arabia — and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in particular — acting as a mediator.

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The report said indirect talks have intensified through mediators including Oman, Qatar and Turkey. Iranian officials were quoted on Wednesday evening as acknowledging that indirect negotiations with the United States are taking place.

Ben-Yishai added that the US military build-up deployed to the region is intended to pressure Iran’s leadership, headed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, into entering negotiations. He said the Iranian leadership remains resistant to negotiating on US terms, partly out of concern that doing so would be seen domestically as a sign of weakness and could fuel renewed unrest.

He argued that Tehran now fears that backing down could threaten the regime’s survival.

According to the report, the main challenge for US military planners is acquiring accurate and reliable intelligence on vital targets inside Iran. While Washington has extensive military capabilities and precision weaponry in the Middle East, Ben-Yishai wrote that it lacks clearly identified targets that could be struck — including potential assassination operations — to ensure the regime’s collapse.

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