As the Israel–Iran conflict entered its 17th day, Israel’s ambassador to India Reuven Azar said the country would be prepared to halt military operations if Tehran altered its course, signalling a possible diplomatic opening even as fighting continued across West Asia.
“We are ready to stop hostilities if Iran changes course,” Azar told reporters in New Delhi on Monday, according to a report by PTI.
The envoy said Israel had recently been engaging through multiple diplomatic channels, including consultations with the United States, regional partners and several countries with which Israel does not maintain formal diplomatic relations.
“We are always for diplomacy. Unfortunately, we exhausted diplomacy to the extent that we had to take military action,” Azar said, adding that Israel hopes diplomacy could regain relevance following its military operations.
Israel claims to have weakened Iran’s military capabilities
Azar said Israeli strikes had significantly degraded Iran’s launching capabilities, referring to missile and drone systems used in the ongoing conflict.
“Through military action we’ve managed to degrade Iran’s launching capabilities to a large extent,” he said.
He added that Israel currently has control of the skies over Iran, claiming Tehran was now in “dire straits”.
According to Azar, the future of the region could be “brighter” if Iran recognises Israel and changes its strategic posture.
Fighting spreads across the region
The remarks came as Israel launched a new wave of attacks on Tehran, with the broader conflict continuing to ripple across West Asia.
Regional tensions escalated further on Monday after a drone incident triggered a fire near Dubai International Airport, forcing authorities to suspend flights temporarily. Dubai-based airline Emirates later said limited operations had resumed, although several routes were cancelled for the day.
Saudi Arabia also reported intercepting drones, while hostilities continued in Iraq and Lebanon, underscoring the widening geographic footprint of the conflict.
US accuses Iran of AI-driven propaganda
Amid the military escalation, US President Donald Trump accused Iran of spreading disinformation about its battlefield gains using artificial intelligence, although he did not provide evidence for the claim.
In a social media post, Trump described Tehran as a “master of media manipulation.”
The accusation comes as both sides increasingly battle for narrative dominance online alongside the military conflict.
Iran rejects ceasefire claims
Iran, however, rejected suggestions that it had sought negotiations or a truce.
In an interview with CBS News, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed claims that Tehran had approached Washington for ceasefire talks.
“No, we never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiation,” Araghchi said. “We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also sought to project confidence about its military capabilities.
IRGC spokesperson Brigadier-General Ali Mohammad Naini told a local broadcaster that most of the organisation’s weapons arsenal remains intact despite the ongoing Israeli attacks.
According to Naini, the missiles currently being used by Iran are from older stockpiles dating back roughly a decade, adding that newer missiles produced after the previous 12-day war with Israel have not yet been deployed.
Arrests and mounting casualties
Iranian authorities also said they had arrested 18 people accused of working for Iran International, a satellite news channel Tehran alleges has links to Israel, according to state broadcaster Press TV.
The human cost of the conflict continues to rise. As of Sunday, 1,444 people have been killed in Iran, while 18,551 others have been injured, according to official figures.
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