Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Friday firmly rejected any diplomatic resolution to the escalating conflict with Iran, as European leaders met Iranian officials in Geneva in a bid to de-escalate tensions.
Speaking amid Israel’s continued bombardment of Iranian targets, Sa’ar declared, “I don’t believe so much in diplomacy with Iran,” adding that past negotiations had only served to buy Tehran time.
The meeting in Geneva brought together the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and the U.K., along with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, in a last-ditch attempt to prevent a broader war. Israel, however, was not invited, and Sa’ar said he was informed only indirectly by European counterparts. “We are not dealing with negotiations with Iran,” he said, instead backing U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”
The conflict has rapidly intensified over the past week, with Israel striking multiple Iranian nuclear sites, including an operation that reportedly set back Tehran’s nuclear capabilities by at least two to three years. Yet a key enrichment facility at Fordo, located deep underground, remains intact. Israeli officials believe American military support may be needed to neutralize it.
Despite refusing to commit the U.S. to direct action, Trump is expected to decide within two weeks whether to authorize strikes, while still leaving the door open to potential negotiations. “There’s a substantial chance of negotiations,” the White House said Thursday.
Meanwhile, Iran has responded with a barrage of missile attacks targeting Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Be’er Sheva. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that “there is no room for negotiations” as long as Israel continues its military operations.
Sa’ar maintained that Israel’s objective is not regime change in Tehran, but the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. “We will take actions until we fully complete the job,” he said, as tensions threaten to spiral into a broader regional war.
