Iran warns of expanded retaliation as Israel reportedly readies attack, Digi Mart USA News: Israel has reportedly ordered its military to step up readiness for possible strikes on Iran, as Tehran warned it would expand the war beyond the region if attacked.
Israeli media reported on Wednesday evening that the security cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered the military to step up preparations for an attack on Iran. Public broadcaster KAN reported that the directives could lead the military to carry out activities that could trigger a war.
KAN said the directives were made public after opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot urged Netanyahu, who is serving in a caretaker capacity, not to deploy the military “without a direct and immediate threat” until the next government is formed. Eisenkot was offered the chance to form a new government by President Isaac Herzog over the weekend, after Netanyahu’s ruling coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the October elections.
Reports of Israeli preparations come amid intense diplomatic efforts to avert further conflict. US President Donald Trump has said he is prepared to return to war if a diplomatic track offered by Qatar fails to produce a deal between Washington and Tehran.
Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei said in a social media post that if the US launches another war against Iran, every military base involved in the aggression, from West Asia to Europe, would be a legitimate target. “No safe distance.
No safe haven. No immunity,” he added.
Al Jazeera reported from Tehran that Iranian leaders have discussed whether to appoint Rezaei as chief negotiator. Lead negotiator Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in an interview with Al Jazeera that the Strait of Hormuz will “never return” to its status before the US-Israel war on Iran, and that “the ball is now in the American court.”
In Washington, Al Jazeera reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said economic pressure against Iran is proving so effective that a resumption of large-scale military operations is unnecessary. US Central Command said forces continue to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial shipping and enforce a naval blockade against Iran.
Oil prices rose about 1 percent on Wednesday after Tehran rejected a US proposal to transfer its stockpile of 60 percent enriched uranium to a third country. Brent futures settled $1.27, or 1.39 percent, higher at $92.76, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 49 cents, or 0.57 percent, to $86.53. Prices had earlier fallen by more than $3 a barrel after US officials played down the need for further strikes, before partially recovering when an Iranian official said no talks were taking place.
