Iranian sources believe a military confrontation with Israel and the United States is inevitable and that Israel will strike first, possibly within days and before Tuesday’s election, Channel 12’s Nir Dvori and Ohad Hemo reported. The assessments are attributed to Iranian sources, and no independent verification was presented.
According to the report, Tehran is preparing for an attack and is responding to Israeli and American threats with talk of a possible retaliation. Iranian reports indicate officials there are convinced Israel may launch its attack “on Tuesday.”
Israel’s defense establishment is preparing for the possibility while voicing deep concern over miscalculation, specifically that Iran could misread statements coming out of Israel and set off an escalation. Security officials warned that injecting politics into the security situation at such a sensitive moment is dangerous and called on public figures to speak responsibly.
The IDF is at peak readiness ahead of the election. In a discussion on Thursday, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir stressed the importance of keeping the security situation stable, saying it is “critical to maintain stability.”
For now, activity is limited to drills and exercises, as Iran has taken no steps that would justify action. U.S. and Israeli forces are nevertheless training continuously, and joint operational plans are in place if needed.
Israeli officials view the American strategy of economic strangulation and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as the correct approach at this stage. As a result, the defense establishment is taking care to avoid actions, at home or abroad, that could fuel escalation.
In Iran, officials are working to head off what they describe as a planned attack. Images released from the country show a production line for suicide drones. Iranian media are describing a scenario in which an Israeli strike would open the way for the U.S. Air Force to expand the campaign and even seize one of Iran’s islands, citing Iranian sources. In that event, Iran says it would hit a broader range of targets, including artificial intelligence centers.
Separately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Channel 7 that he has instructed the Mossad and the IDF to work toward toppling the Iranian regime. “I instructed that the only solution that comes into consideration here is of course bringing down this fanatical regime,” Netanyahu said.
