Israel-Iran Ceasefire... Israel 'Focuses on Gaza', Iran 'Willing to Resume Nuclear Talks with U.S.'

As Israel and Iran, which had been engaged in armed conflict for 12 days, entered into a ceasefire, Israel announced that while maintaining military tension, it would focus its military capability on operations to eliminate Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iran signaled its intention to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States, which had been suspended due to airstrikes.

On the 24th (local time), Israel Katz, Israel's Minister of Defense, told Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, by phone that "we will also respect the ceasefire as long as the other party does," adding that he had "expressed gratitude for President Donald Trump's bold decision to act together with Israel against the Iranian nuclear threat" via X (formerly Twitter).

He further added, "We agreed to further strengthen the close security cooperation between the U.S. and Israel."

According to the Israel Defense Forces, Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir said at a Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting that day regarding the ceasefire, "The focus is shifting back to the Gaza Strip," and "We will bring the hostages home and dismantle the Hamas regime."

This appears to mean that military capacity, which had temporarily been focused on counter-Iranian operations, will be refocused on operations to eliminate the Palestinian militant faction Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Zamir also commented, "We have delayed Iran's nuclear and missile program for years," and stated, "The Israel Defense Forces have achieved top results and the intelligence service has also delivered unprecedented accomplishments." He continued, "We may have completed a critical stage, but operations against Iran are not yet over," stressing, "We must not become complacent and must maintain our vigilance."

According to the Iranian state news agency IRNA, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by phone that "we are ready to resolve issues with the United States in accordance with international norms" and "Iran has never demanded anything beyond our rights."

This is interpreted as expressing Iran's intent to resume nuclear talks with the U.S., which were halted after Israel's sudden airstrikes on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility and other locations on the 13th.

U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, which began last April, have stalled as Iran has insisted it cannot abandon uranium enrichment. Amid this stalemate, Israel launched a sudden airstrike on Iran, and the U.S. also bombed Iran's key uranium enrichment site at Fordow on the 22nd.

Soolim Park, Hankyung.com Reporter paksr365@hankyung.com