Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East and former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro stated on Tuesday that an Israeli strike on Iran could take place as early as this year, possibly in the coming fall. His remarks were made during the annual international conference of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS).
According to Shapiro, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump may soon face a decisive moment regarding an attack on Iran, with U.S.-Israel cooperation being critical to any military operation.
“Israel is committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear capability”
Shapiro noted that the possibility of Israel carrying out the attack independently after receiving advanced weaponry from the U.S. is unrealistic within the current timeframe. “The transfer of the discussed armaments to Israel so it can carry out the strike alone is a process that takes time,” he explained. “This is due to both American bureaucracy and the necessary training for Israeli forces to operate new weapons systems.”
Just a week ago, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar declared that “Israel is committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear capability.” Sa’ar added that Iran is intensifying efforts to smuggle funds to Hezbollah through Lebanon, in coordination with Turkey, to rebuild its strength and increase its influence in the country. “Hezbollah’s rehabilitation would be a major obstacle to any attempt to turn Lebanon into a functioning, independent state, and therefore, decisive action must be taken to prevent it,” he stated.
Growing Fears in Iran of a Sudden Attack
Meanwhile, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported that fear is mounting in Iran over the possibility of a sudden strike on its nuclear facilities, leading to heightened alertness in defense systems surrounding its sensitive sites. According to sources, Tehran is expecting an attack every night – even on facilities whose existence is unknown to outsiders.
An Iranian official stated that the regime is particularly concerned about the possibility that the U.S. might join an Israeli attack, something he claimed “could pose a real existential threat to the regime.” This report comes amid hints from senior security officials in both the U.S. and Israel regarding a potential military operation against Iran’s nuclear program, citing its significant advancement and the threat it poses to the entire Middle East.
