Israel’s military campaign against Iran may continue for "weeks, not days", according to multiple Israeli and American officials cited by CNN and other US outlets.
The operation, which began with Israeli airstrikes deep inside Iranian territory, is proceeding with what sources describe as the implicit approval of the administration of US President Donald Trump.
US officials quoted by CNN and Axios said that while Washington is not currently planning to participate in Israel's military strikes, it has not objected to the timeline and has offered quiet support. One Israeli official said the Trump administration had made no criticism of Israel's plans during private discussions.
A senior Israeli official told The Wall Street Journal on Friday that Tel Aviv is planning a 14-day military campaign aimed at weakening Iran's leadership and military capacity, with the ultimate goal of forcing Tehran into a negotiated agreement.
The official claimed that by "destroying Iran's command structure and reducing its arsenal", Israel hopes to bring an end to the escalation through diplomacy.
A White House source told CNN that "the duration of the conflict depends on Iran's response", and stressed that the administration believes the situation could ultimately be resolved through continued negotiations with the United States.
However, tensions on the ground continue to escalate.
On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran’s military response to Israeli attacks would continue, accusing Israel of launching its initial strikes "without warning or prior escalation", and calling it a "blatant act of aggression" against Iranian territory.
Speaking during a meeting with foreign ambassadors in Tehran, Araghchi accused the US of complicity in the Israeli assault.
"The Israeli attack was not carried out without American approval and support," he said. "We have conclusive evidence showing that US forces and bases in the region supported the Israeli military’s operations."
The sixth round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US, which had been scheduled to take place in Muscat, Oman, now appears to be suspended.
Araghchi said there was "no justification" for continuing talks while Israel's military assault on Iran continues. He also accused the US of offering "direct support" to Israeli actions, citing public statements by President Trump as having encouraged Israeli escalation.
Despite the intensifying conflict, a senior US official told The Washington Post that the White House still hopes Iran will return to the negotiating table "soon".
The comments come despite Israel and Iran now engaging in multiple direct military confrontations, with both sides launching strikes against each other's territory, leading to multiple casualties on both sides.
The White House has reiterated that it will not instruct Israel to take or avoid specific actions, stating that Israel retains the right to "defend itself", despite Tel Aviv starting the conflict.
Analysts warn that without a clear de-escalation mechanism, the conflict risks spiralling into a broader regional war with limited diplomatic off-ramps.