Regional contacts intensified yesterday (Thursday) to curb the return of war between the United States and Iran, amid anticipation in Tehran for the decision of US President Donald Trump after the Republicans lost the congressional elections, and Iranian warnings of Washington’s readiness to resume strikes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi held contacts with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Turkey and Jordan. Araghchi discussed with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan regional developments and efforts made to enhance the security and stability of the region.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf accused Trump of preparing for “the next phase of the war,” and said that the United States stands “on the brink of the abyss” under the slogan “Israel first.” Qalibaf addressed US Vice President J.D. Vance, who held the war responsible for the defeat of the Republicans, saying: “Why don’t you say that to your president?”
In Moscow, Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, delivered Russian President Vladimir Putin an urgent message from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the contents of which were not revealed. Rezaei said that Putin expressed his willingness to provide “any assistance” to end the war, and they discussed the post-war phase and “security arrangements in the region.”
The New York Times reported that Iran is studying “concrete proposals” presented by mediators regarding its nuclear program, noting that Rezaei expressed in the unannounced talks an openness to discussing the file, despite his stated conditions. She added that the dispute continues over the stock of highly enriched uranium, and that the American and Israeli armies have prepared plans for a “short and intense” operation that may target energy facilities and nuclear sites.
Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot received support from the Joint Arab List, which strengthens his path to forming a government, while his rival, Benjamin Netanyahu, lost the support of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party that had been an important ally of his bloc for years.
Hebrew media reported yesterday (Thursday) that 67 out of 120 members of Parliament (the Knesset) recommended appointing Eisenkot, during meetings conducted by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, to decide the name of the person he intends to assign to form the government. The elections that took place less than two weeks ago did not produce a winner, and neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot were able to secure a parliamentary majority.
Yesterday, the Joint Arab List, which won 11 seats in the elections, announced its support for Eisenkot to form the government, even though he said before the elections that he did not intend to ally with the Arab representatives.
The list justified its support by saying that it is important to “widen the gap between them (Netanyahu and Eisenkot), as this is a step that enhances the chances of replacing the government.”
Meanwhile, Netanyahu's shares declined, after the United Torah Judaism Party, one of the two main parties representing ultra-Orthodox Jewish voters and an important and long-standing ally of Netanyahu, declined yesterday to recommend any candidate to form the government.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that he will announce on Sunday the name of the representative who will assign him to form a new government, after he completed his consultations with the leaders of all parties following the elections.
Herzog said in a video message: “I intend to assign next Sunday a member of the Knesset (Parliament) to form the government.”
He explained that 46 MPs recommended appointing outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while 67 MPs supported appointing his rival, Gadi Eisenkot. Seven representatives declined to recommend any candidate.
Herzog called on party leaders to reach a settlement and make concessions, while at the same time condemning the “racist” rhetoric directed against Arabs.
The consultations aimed to assign a person to form the new government, after the legislative elections in which neither the outgoing Prime Minister nor his main competitor, Gadi Eisenkot, obtained a likely majority.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog will meet with both Netanyahu and his most prominent political rival, Gadi Eisenkot, to decide which of them will be assigned to form the government, after consultations he conducted with small parties.
This put Herzog in front of a difficult task; After the elections, his role, which is mostly limited to protocol tasks, includes choosing the candidate who he believes has the best chance of breaking the deadlock in a country suffering from deep divisions.
