Brett McGurk, former White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, said he would not advise Israel to de-escalate. “My message would be to Iran: return to the negotiating table and accept the deal the U.S. has offered. That’s the foundation for diplomacy,” he stated.

He added that sustained Israeli airstrikes—alongside a credible U.S. threat to target Iran’s Fordow enrichment facility—would likely increase pressure on Tehran and help pave the way for a diplomatic breakthrough.