Episode Details

HEADLINES
- Iran Talks Near Nuclear Deal Peaceful Use
- Top General Shapes Trump Iran Policy
- Modi Visit Boosts Israel India Security Ties

The time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a nuclear agreement with the United States is within reach if diplomacy is prioritized, as Geneva talks resume on Thursday. He emphasized that Iran will not develop a nuclear weapon and will insist on redlines rooted in fundamental convictions, while pursuing the peaceful use of nuclear technology for the Iranian people. He described the negotiations as built on understandings from the previous round and pledged to bring courage to the talks to defend sovereignty and secure a fair and timely deal.

At the same time, attention on Iran policy within the United States centers on the role of its military leadership. General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has emerged as the most influential adviser to President Trump on Iran since June 2025, with other top officials involved in shaping discussions about possible military scenarios and the costs of any Iranian counterattack.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States has set a Friday deadline for Iraq to form a government free of Iranian influence or face sanctions, with the nomination of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at issue due to links with Iran. Officials warn that failure to meet the deadline could trigger punitive measures targeting individuals and institutions tied to the bid. US envoy Tom Barrack has publicly discussed the issue after meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, signaling ongoing diplomacy over Iraq’s leadership choice.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, former prime minister Naftali Bennett criticized coalition lawmakers and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party for not opposing the government’s controversial haredi conscription bill. He said the reservists are being abandoned because there is no lobby in Likud, and warned that the mark of disgrace for abandoning IDF soldiers will be branded on every coalition member. Bennett also pointed to a recent vote in which Likud MKs blocked a plan to increase the VAT exemption ceiling on personal imports, arguing that if they truly cared about soldiers they would have opposed the draft-evasion law and enlisted ultra-Orthodox recruits to replace reservists.

In Uplifting News, Modi’s visit to Israel is described as a strategic turning point for global security. With a visit set for February 25-26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Knesset, take part in an innovation forum in Jerusalem, and pay respects at Yad Vashem, reflecting a deepening India‑Israel partnership built on political trust, technology, and shared security concerns about ideological violence. Observers say the partnership offers strategic value for both regions amid a volatile global landscape. Israel honors missing fallen soldiers at annual Mt. Herzl ceremony. Lieutenant Colonel Shlomi Azani, head of the IDF’s missing soldiers branch, said Israel remembers its courageous and loyal sons and daughters who gave their lives serving in the IDF.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-887821
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-887820

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