Israel has raised its military alert level in anticipation of a possible new escalation with Iran, as Israel’s security establishment assesses the current phase as a “major flashpoint” between Washington and Tehran, amid stalled negotiations and an exchange of warnings over the possibility of new attacks.
Israeli fears of pre-emptive Iranian action
Israeli concerns centre on the possibility that Iran could take pre-emptive action if the current negotiations make no progress, or if Tehran concludes that it is being targeted by an attempt at deception or manoeuvring, according to a report by Israel’s Channel 12. An Israeli security source said: “The situation is sensitive and liable to change, and things could spiral out of control,” adding that “the Iranians do not appear ready to make concessions during the negotiations”.
Israeli assessments indicate that, if the confrontation escalates, Tehran could begin by targeting US interests in the region.
Israeli army bolsters defensive and offensive readiness
The report added that attacks could later also target Israel, explaining that the Israeli army is maintaining “a very high level of readiness and alertness, prepared both to defend and to carry out an attack if necessary”, in coordination with the US military. Israel’s readiness level had been high in recent weeks before being raised further as the holidays approached.
Israeli security discussions examined scenarios that could lead to escalation, identifying Iran’s difficult economic situation, resulting from the US blockade, and the Israeli operation in Ali Taher, Lebanon, among the factors that could drive a wider confrontation. Scenarios of concern include Iran launching missiles towards Israeli territory, as well as the possibility of attacks against Israeli targets or Jews abroad.
Iranian warnings of another US attack
The preparations come as Iranian warnings are renewed over the possibility of the United States launching another attack on Iranian territory. Hossein Mahb, a spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that any new attack would prompt Tehran to change the geography of the war and the type of weapons used, in his words.
In the same context, sources in Tehran said the authorities expected the country to face another US attack, noting that “leave granted to senior military officers and law-enforcement officials has been cancelled”. US President Donald Trump, for his part, said that “something very big could happen very soon regarding Iran”, explaining that he was about to make a decision very soon.
Trump put forward three options, describing the first as “completely wiping out and destroying Iran”, the second as “letting it rot economically”, and the third as “reaching a deal and an agreement”, in his words. Alongside the verbal escalation and reciprocal threats, diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions continued.
These efforts included Qatar, which Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited, and Pakistan, which has been mediating between the United States and Iran for months. An initial agreement signed by the two sides in June last year collapsed after disagreements over several issues, foremost among them the Strait of Hormuz and its administration.
After the agreement collapsed, US forces resumed strikes on some Iranian sites and Iranian oil vessels, while the United States continued its naval blockade of Iranian ports and imposed further sanctions on Tehran.
