Israel has reportedly ordered its military to heighten readiness for potential strikes against Iran, following a decision by the Israeli security cabinet. The move comes amidst warnings from Iran that it would broaden the conflict if attacked, according to Tehran's officials. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the security cabinet, which has instructed the military to intensify preparations for an attack on Iran, as per reports by KAN public broadcaster on Wednesday evening. This action may lead to military activities that could potentially ignite a war, according to KAN's report.
Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has cautioned Netanyahu not to deploy the military without a direct and immediate threat until a new government is formed, following an offer by Israeli President Isaac Herzog for him to form a new government over the weekend. Netanyahu, who is serving as prime minister in a caretaker capacity, has consistently maintained that the conflict with Iran will persist until the fall of the regime in Tehran.
Tensions have been escalating, with reports of Israeli preparations for an attack on Iran surfacing at a time when diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent further conflict and reach a diplomatic resolution. The possibility of a new war has been raised by US President Donald Trump, who has stated his readiness to return to waging war if a diplomatic track offered by Qatar fails to facilitate an agreement between Washington and Tehran. Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei has threatened that any military bases involved in aggression against Iran would be legitimate targets for its lethal strikes, should the US launch another war against the country.
In Tehran, there have been discussions about appointing hawkish Mohsen Rezaei as Iran's new chief negotiator, according to Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar Atas. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has commented that negotiations may fail and Iran might resort to "sustainable deterrence" if talks do not progress. Ghalibaf also stated in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera that the Strait of Hormuz will never return to its pre-war status, and that the ball is now in the American court. In Washington, DC, it has been reported that Trump continues to justify his decision to go to war with Iran and claims it will end soon, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintains that the economic pressure campaign against Iran is proving effective, making a resumption of large-scale military operations unnecessary.