As Israel expands airstrikes deep into Iran, Tehran’s Thursday response proves weak and largely ineffective; Trump signals U.S. openness to negotiate—on American and Israeli terms. The US gaves Iran up to two weeks for last ditch negotiations, but Trump may not weight so long if he sees talks prove fruitless.

With the Rising Lion operation entering its second week, Thursday and early Friday brought a sharp contrast in capabilities: Israeli air dominance over Iran continued to yield results, while the Islamic Republic’s attempted strikes fell flat. At the same time, President Donald Trump, whose administration has lent strong rhetorical and strategic support to Israel throughout the conflict, signaled that he was open to a negotiated end—provided Iran “comes to its senses.”

The Trump Administration did not rule out the use of tactical nuclear weapons to deal with the Fordow nuclear plant buried deep within a mountain.

While international pressure for a ceasefire grows, Israel appears determined to extract the full cost from Iran for its role in orchestrating terror across the region. Defense officials confirmed the continuation of precision strikes on IRGC command hubs, missile factories, and suspected nuclear-related sites throughout central and western Iran, including near Isfahan and Shiraz.

Meanwhile, Iran’s much-hyped Thursday response amounted to little. A small barrage of drones and short-range rockets targeted the Golan Heights and the Negev region but were intercepted or missed entirely. There were no Israeli casualties reported. One drone reportedly landed in open terrain near Mitzpe Ramon, with no damage. Propaganda claims of hitting the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange were false, as the TASE continued to surge on favorable war news.

“This was not the retaliation of a regional power,” an Israeli military analyst noted Thursday night. “It was the panic of a regime that is outmatched, outmaneuvered, and out of time.”

IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a Thursday evening briefing that Israel’s Air Force “retains complete air superiority over Iran and will continue its operations as long as necessary.” He emphasized that key facilities linked to missile development had been “neutralized,” and that the campaign was being adapted in real-time based on intelligence and operational success.

In Washington, Trump appeared on multiple networks and social platforms Thursday evening, stating: “Peace is always preferable—but Iran has to understand we are no longer in an era where they can threaten Israel, chant ‘death to America,’ and expect to get away with it. If they want a deal, they know my terms.”

Trump’s tone was stern but not dismissive, suggesting that the White House is ready to leverage Iran’s military failures into diplomatic advantage. Privately, U.S. officials indicated that preliminary channels for communication are being tested through back-door intermediaries. Senior US and Israeli officials met Thursday night.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meeting with senior security officials late Thursday, reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to continuing operations until “Iran’s strategic ability to menace us is dismantled, not just deterred.” According to sources in the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu told American interlocutors that Israel will not accept any agreement that allows Iran to retain long-range missile development capabilities or restart nuclear activities under the guise of civilian research.

Iran, for its part, remained defiant in tone but muted in action. Ayatollah Khamenei, in a sermon broadcast from Mashhad, called the war “a test of the nation’s resilience,” but made no new threats. Notably, there was no repeat of last week’s long-range missile launch, which had targeted Israeli bases and resulted in dozens of Israeli deaths. The IRGC’s silence raised speculation that the leadership was attempting to regroup after devastating blows to its command chain and weapons facilities.

Inside Iran, morale appears strained. Reports from resistance networks and social media posts reveal growing criticism of the regime’s strategy and mounting economic panic. In one widely circulated video, a Tehran resident can be heard saying: “They said we would teach Israel a lesson. Instead, they are bombing us in our beds, and our leaders hide underground.”

International reactions have been mixed. European capitals continue to call for restraint, with France urging both sides to “step back from the brink,” though Paris has stopped short of criticizing Israel’s actions. Germany reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defense. The UN Security Council is expected to meet again Friday afternoon, though Israeli officials privately derided the session as “theater.”

In Moscow, a subdued statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry urged “regional stability,” a far cry from previous full-throated condemnations of Israeli actions. Analysts suggest the Kremlin is watching the conflict closely, aware that its own grip on Syria and the Caucasus may be weakened if Iran’s influence in the region continues to erode.

One senior Israeli official, speaking anonymously, stated: “This war is not just about defending Israel. It’s about reshaping the Middle East so that terror regimes backed by Tehran, and Iran itself, no longer hold civilians hostage.”

Indeed, reports from southern Lebanon and Iraq suggest that Hezbollah and the Iran-backed militias there are hesitating to escalate, possibly waiting to assess whether Tehran survives the current onslaught.

Despite the brutality of war, the strategic clarity is undeniable. Israel, with U.S. backing, is demonstrating that the era of Iranian impunity may be ending.