Israel Believes US Will Definitely Strike Iran
Israeli officials believe the U.S. has committed to striking Iran as Netanyahu holds urgent security meetings. Scope and timing remain unclear amid diplomatic push.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened senior security officials Sunday evening as Israel assessed that the U.S. has committed to military action against Iran, according to Israeli officials familiar with the discussions.
According to Channel 12, the meeting included Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Mossad Director David Barnea and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The session followed Zamir's weekend trip to Washington for talks with American counterparts on Iran.
"We cannot accept Iran's missile capabilities, and the Americans understand this," an Israeli official said.
Israel's assessment is that the U.S. has reached a point where backing away from threatened strikes would prove difficult, though the scope and timing of potential action remain unclear, according to people briefed on the matter.
The IDF disclosed Sunday that Zamir made the brief U.S. visit over the weekend, accompanied by Brig. Gen. Omer Tishler, the incoming Air Force commander. "There is no substitute for a face-to-face conversation," a security establishment source told Israeli broadcaster N12.
The Israeli meetings aim to align positions between Washington and Jerusalem on Iran policy. Zamir briefed Netanyahu on his weekend discussions during Sunday's session, which excluded political representatives beyond the defense minister.
Meanwhile, Turkey, Egypt and Qatar are attempting to arrange talks between White House envoy Steve Witkoff and senior Iranian officials in Ankara this week, according to reports. The three countries, which helped broker the recent Gaza cease-fire, are working to facilitate U.S.-Iran negotiations to avert wider conflict.
President Trump has ordered a significant U.S. military deployment to the Gulf as Washington weighs options on Iran. White House officials say Trump hasn't made a final decision on military action but remains open to diplomacy.
U.S. officials said Trump's recent comments about potential negotiations with Iran aren't "a bluff," but stressed uncertainty over whether Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would authorize diplomats to reach an agreement.