Israel’s security cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has ordered the armed forces to increase readiness for a potential strike on Iran, according to Israeli media reports. The directive, issued amid rising tensions, could trigger a broader conflict if executed.
Public broadcaster KAN noted that the orders could lead to actions that might spark war. The move comes after opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot urged Netanyahu to refrain from deploying the military without an immediate threat until a new government is formed. Eisenkot was offered the chance to form a government by President Isaac Herzog following the collapse of Netanyahu’s coalition in October.
Netanyahu, who faces a possible loss of power if the opposition succeeds, has maintained that the war against Iran will continue until Tehran’s government collapses. The announcement arrives as diplomatic efforts intensify to prevent further escalation.
U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled readiness to resume hostilities if a Qatar‑backed diplomatic track fails to secure a deal between Washington and Tehran. In response, Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned that any U.S. military action would make all involved bases, from West Asia to Europe, legitimate targets for Iranian strikes, emphasizing “no safe distance” and “no immunity.”
Iranian officials are reportedly debating whether to appoint Rezaei as the country’s chief negotiator. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has expressed Iran’s determination to move beyond a “no war, no peace” stance through “sustainable deterrence” if negotiations falter. He stated 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, Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher reported that Trump continues to justify his decision to go to war with Iran, claiming the conflict will end soon. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also highlighted the administration’s economic pressure campaign against Iran.
Source: Al Jazeera
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