Tel Aviv

Iran may be preparing a sudden missile and drone offensive against Israel and several Gulf nations even as indirect ceasefire discussions continue between Tehran and Washington, according to a report by the Jerusalem Post citing intelligence sources.

The report said the possibility of a preemptive Iranian attack was reviewed during a high-level security meeting attended by senior Israeli military officials and Defence Minister Israel Katz.

The assessment comes at a time when diplomatic contacts between the United States and Iran are ongoing, despite reports suggesting differences between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding policy toward Tehran.

Security officials reportedly believe Iran could attempt a strike before Washington and Tel Aviv determine that negotiations have failed and shift toward military action. Sources compared the potential scenario to the initial phases of previous Israeli military operations.

According to the report, the Israeli Air Force and the Operations Directorate of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), led by Major General Hidai Zilberman, have been coordinating closely with American counterparts to improve readiness levels. The discussions reportedly focused on intelligence-sharing and monitoring unusual Iranian military movements.

Separately, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir held consultations with senior commanders to review both defensive and offensive response options. He has also remained in touch with US military officials over possible joint coordination in case tensions escalate further.

A military source quoted by Walla said the US and Israel recently carried out a broad operational review aimed at strengthening their ability to detect and intercept threats originating from Iran. The review reportedly enhanced coordination in missile defence systems, technological integration, operational planning and troop deployment.

The report further claimed that American military shipments to Israel have risen sharply in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Trump reiterated his position on Iran’s nuclear programme, stating that the US would not allow Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons capability. Iran is believed to possess a significant quantity of highly enriched uranium, which Western officials consider potentially sufficient for weapons development if processed further.

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Both the United States and Israel continue to view Iran’s nuclear activities as a major security concern, with Israel consistently raising the issue at international forums.