US Media: ‘Devastated’ Iran Seeks to Ease Hostile Relations with Israel

On June 16, Middle Eastern and European officials said that Iran has been urgently signaling its desire to end hostilities, restore negotiations regarding its nuclear program, and has sent messages to Israel and the United States through Arab intermediaries. These officials stated that in light of Israel's intense airstrikes, Tehran has told Arab officials that they are willing to return to the negotiating table as long as the US does not join the airstrikes. They also conveyed to Israel that controlling violence is in the interests of both parties. However, due to Israel's aircraft being able to freely fly over the Iranian capital, and the negligible damage caused by Iran's counterattacks, Israeli leaders have little motivation to stop their attacks before taking further action to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities and further weaken the control of Iran's 'theocratic government' over power.