Israel-Iran war: No timeline for end of conflict, says Israeli Ambassador

A top Israeli official stated Wednesday that it is currently impossible to provide a timeline for the conclusion of the ongoing war with Iran. During an informal media briefing, the official warned that uncertainty in the Middle East is likely to persist as long as the deadly regime in Iran is still in power.

Reuven Azar, Israel’s Ambassador to India, maintained that degrading the Iranian regime’s military, nuclear, and missile capabilities is in the best interest of both the Middle East and India.

“In the current military action against Iran, we have degraded the regime’s capabilities—both militarily and in terms of leadership. However, as expected, Iran is doubling down and striking back,” Ambassador Azar said. "It is not possible to give an exact time for the war's end, but Israel and the US are certain to achieve their desired objectives.”

Intelligence led to February 28 strikes

Detailing the necessity of the strikes launched on February 28, Azar revealed that Israel had received "credible intelligence" that the Iranian regime was rebuilding its nuclear and missile arsenal.

"Following successful strikes last June, Iran’s nuclear programme and missile capabilities were substantially degraded. However, we learned that Iran was on the verge of acquiring fresh fissile supplies,” the Ambassador said.

He further noted that intelligence indicated Iran had begun excavating deeper facilities to house nuclear arms and missiles, designed to withstand strikes from the US or other nations. “A nuclear-armed Iran is a threat to Israel's very existence; therefore, for Israel, this is a battle for survival,” he added.

Regional impact and civilian toll

Despite suffering heavy losses—including the reported death of Ayatollah Khamenei—Iran has shown unexpected resistance throughout the three-week-old war. Operating with reduced capacity, Iran continues to target Arab nations with drones and missiles, striking oil and gas infrastructure and disrupting global supplies.

The Ambassador noted that while Iranian strikes on Israel have resulted in 19 civilian deaths and numerous injuries, the scale of the retaliation was less than anticipated. “We were expecting a bigger response from Iran. In that regard, we are positively surprised,” the envoy said.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Azar admitted Israel does not control the area and acknowledged the threat of sabotage to Asian oil and gas supplies. However, he expressed confidence that the US would successfully secure the passage.

Support for India

Ambassador Azar emphasised that Israel is prepared to provide full cooperation to India as it navigates energy challenges caused by the instability in the Strait of Hormuz. While supporting India's efforts to find alternative trade routes, Israel maintains that a "swift regime change" in Iran would ultimately benefit Indian trade and the security of 10 million Indian nationals residing in the Gulf.

Internal unrest in Iran

Despite a nationwide internet shutdown in Iran, the Ambassador cited intelligence reports suggesting a "rising tide" of opposition against the regime. He claimed that reports have reached Israel of Iranian citizens celebrating the news of Ali Larijani’s death.

“The objective is for the people to be freed from oppressive rulers and for the world to be liberated from nuclear threats,” Azar said. He cautioned, however, that due to the conservative nature of Iranian society, it remains difficult to predict when a total transition of power will be achieved.