Iran has severely damaged several American military bases in the Middle East, officials say.
A brigadier general and speaker of Parliament, Mr. Ghalibaf, one of the leaders of Iran’s war effort, has emerged as a potential contact point in any peace talks.
The president has domestic and international political motivations for touting negotiations to end the war. Iran has similar ones to deny discussions.
Iran does not want a momentary pause in the fighting, fearing that Israel and the United States would use that opportunity to beef up their forces before resuming strikes.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave the order on Tuesday for the military to accelerate its attacks, with a 48-hour deadline, four people briefed on the matter said.
There were few signs that either side was prepared to step back from the fighting. Israel said it struck an area south of Beirut and issued new evacuation warnings.
The attack came a day after a separate strike on the same base, which hosts units viewed by the United States as allies of Iran.
The Trump administration said the Middle East would “recede” in importance as the China challenge took priority. But the president started the war in Iran.
The United States is discussing ways to end hostilities with Iran, even as the Pentagon dispatches more troops.
Critics say Mark Rutte, the alliance’s secretary general, has gone beyond his remit by openly supporting a war that does not directly involve Europe’s collective defense.