Iran's indirect talks continue as ceasefire proposal faces new clauses and regional threats

Ceasefire talks remain unresolved

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday that indirect talks with the United States continue over a proposed seven-day ceasefire. Trump rejected the proposal last month, and the United States is seeking additional clauses.

On Tuesday, Trump said the United States was doing well with Iran, but had not settled on how to win the war. Global oil prices remained near five-month highs.

Netanyahu orders regime effort

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he had instructed Israel’s military and intelligence services to topple Iran’s government. He described Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei as following the path of his father, Ali Khamenei.

Mojtaba Khamenei took over after Ali Khamenei was killed in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike on Feb. 28. Netanyahu said the directive applied to the Israel Defense Forces, Mossad and security services.

Reported plans for Yemen

Saudi Arabia has discussed transferring as many as 10,000 Syrian fighters to Yemen to fight the Houthi movement, according to Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar newspaper, citing Yemeni intelligence sources. The report said a Syrian military delegation included commanders from the new Syrian army.

Military and security developments

Iran appointed Akhlaghi, a veteran of its missile industry, as defense minister, replacing a minister killed on Feb. 28. Akhlaghi studied chemical engineering and held senior roles in Iranian military and aerospace industries; he has been under international sanctions since 2007 over his involvement in missile programs.

A Qatari aircraft arrived in Tehran shortly after a plane carrying Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, departed, according to aviation tracking data cited by Fars News. The Qatari plane left about 30 minutes later, and the report gave no information about its passengers or purpose.