The United States appears willing to engage, at least indirectly, with Iran’s ruling regime even as Israel seems increasingly focused on toppling it, former US ambassador to Ukraine William B. Taylor has told TVP World. Taylor, a veteran American diplomat and former US ambassador to Ukraine, spoke to TVP World’s World News Tonight as questions mounted over Washington’s next steps in the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the broader region. He suggested recent signals from President Donald Trump point to a White House that is still looking for a way to contain and eventually end the war, even if Tehran publicly denies direct contact. “I'd be willing to bet that there are conversations going on,” Taylor said, adding that he doubted these were face-to-face talks between US and Iranian officials. Instead, he said, intermediaries such as Egypt or Oman were likely facilitating indirect contacts between the two sides. That, in his view, is politically significant. Taylor argued that such contacts suggest the United States is still prepared to deal with the current Iranian leadership, rather than make regime change its central objective. “These indirect dialogs between the Americans and the Iranians suggest that the Americans are willing to deal with this regime,” he said. Diverging war aims That approach, Taylor argued, is not necessarily shared by Israel. Asked whether Washington and Jerusalem are on the same page when it comes to ending the war and discussing a ceasefire with Iran, he replied: “Probably not.” “I imagine the Israelis are more interested in regime change. They want to get rid of these mullahs, get rid of this regime,” Taylor said, drawing a distinction between Israeli strategic aims and what he sees as a more pragmatic US calculation. For Taylor, the gap matters because it points to a possible split in the Western camp over what success in Iran would actually look like. While Israel may seek a fundamental political transformation in Tehran, he suggested the Trump administration is more narrowly focused on ending the conflict and limiting the economic damage caused by prolonged instability. “I think President Trump does want to end this war,” Taylor said. “The economic consequences of this war are not good for the West, for the United States.” Ukraine still part of the picture Although the interview also touched on Ukraine, Taylor linked the two theaters by arguing that Kyiv has become more than just a country asking for support. He said Ukraine’s experience fighting Iranian-made Shahed drones used by Russia has given it expertise that is now relevant to US allies in the Middle East. “The Ukrainians do have cards,” Taylor said, arguing that Kyiv’s ability to help counter Iranian drone warfare strengthens its value as a security partner. Still, the clearest message from the interview was about Iran: Taylor sees signs that Washington is not closing the door on diplomacy with Tehran, even as Israel appears to be thinking in more maximalist terms. As he put it, “the interest between the Israelis and the Americans has started to diverge.”
