Senior Israeli political analyst Dana Weiss, speaking on Channel 12, said the joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran had failed to deliver a “decisive blow,” leaving the outcome of the escalation still uncertain. Weiss emphasized that the central question now is how to end the confrontation without being dragged into a protracted war.
In her report aired Sunday evening, Weiss stated, “Even if some objectives were achieved, it is clear to all parties that the situation is far from over.” She highlighted that the main challenge ahead is devising an exit strategy from the current escalation, particularly as the Israeli regime seeks to avoid a drawn-out war of attrition, a scenario both the political and military establishments are eager to prevent.
According to Weiss, managing the next phase depends not only on the Israeli occupation’s internal assessments but also on Iran’s response and the international community’s stance. She noted that the occupying regime has a limited window of several days to address the growing missile threat. Should talks fail to materialize, she added, international actors may push for an imposed ceasefire between the two sides.
Mounting concern within ‘Israel’
Weiss’s remarks reflect mounting concern within the Israeli establishment over the consequences of any potential Iranian retaliation. Calls are growing in the Hebrew media for a political and diplomatic off-ramp that could prevent “Israel” from sinking deeper into a regional confrontation.
In a related report, Channel 13 confirmed that several officials inside the Israeli occupation’s leadership are pushing to conclude the military campaign within days following the US strike on Iran. The urgency underscores growing unease over a scenario spiraling beyond control.
Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Islamic Revolution leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, emphasized on Sunday that the recent attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities do not signify the end of the confrontation, warning that Iran still holds significant strategic advantages.
In a post on X, Shamkhani wrote: “Even assuming the complete destruction of the facilities, the game is not over; enriched materials, domestic expertise, and political will remain intact.”
He added that the initiative, both political and operational, now lies with the side that “knows how to play intelligently and avoids firing indiscriminately,” suggesting that Iran’s response would be impactful.
Strategic deterrence, sustained capabilities
Shamkhani’s remarks follow intensified US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, including major sites at Natanz and Fordow. Despite the damage, Iranian officials continue to assert that the core of the country’s nuclear program, knowledge, enrichment stockpiles, and national resolve, remain unaffected.
“The surprises will continue,” Shamkhani warned, signaling that Tehran has more calculated moves to come amid escalating regional tensions.
Following the United States’ airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, senior Iranian lawmakers have raised the possibility of withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation.
The warnings come after US President Donald Trump announced, in a post in Truth Social, on Sunday at dawn, that the United States carried out what he described as a “very successful attack” on three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Iran implemented measures to safeguard infrastructure
Esmail Kowsari, a prominent member of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in Parliament, affirmed that the country had already implemented protective measures to safeguard its nuclear infrastructure. He dismissed allegations of severe damage to Iran’s nuclear program, calling them “baseless claims,” and insisted that “Tehran has accurate intelligence disproving such assertions.”
Kowsari revealed that authorities are actively weighing a possible exit from the NPT. “We are reviewing the option of withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,” he said, noting that the parliamentary committee would soon hold an emergency session to assess the American attack and formulate Iran’s official response.
Reiterating Iran’s commitment to Resistance, Kowsari warned that “our armed forces will certainly continue striking the Zionist entity,” adding, “US military bases across the region will not remain secure. Hitting them will be far easier than targeting the Israeli regime.”
He further cautioned that Iran is prepared to escalate militarily if necessary, stating, “The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is on the table. We will definitely implement it if the situation requires.”
Al-Mayadeen, 22.6.2025
