Israel Warns of Iran Nuclear Strikes as Tensions Rise

An Israeli source told Saudi channel Al-Hadath that "a round of further attacks in Iran appears to be a matter of time," amid heightened tensions with Tehran. The source indicated that Iran is intensifying its efforts to protect its nuclear project near Natanz and is attempting to leverage its nuclear program to deter any attacks. Israel "will take steps to attack Iranian nuclear facilities again if Tehran crosses red lines," the source stated.

Concurrently, the military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened that if the United States initiates a new war, it could open a new front around the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait. He expressed hope that a new war would not erupt but affirmed Iran's readiness to defend itself if attacked. The advisor also suggested that Iran could explore alternative mechanisms for ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz if Washington considered Iran's proposals, claiming that US obstruction is preventing an agreement with Oman on maritime traffic in the strait. Iran, he asserted, will always control and manage the Strait of Hormuz, and connecting it with the Bab el-Mandeb strait would alter the battlefield.

These statements follow Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's address at the UN General Assembly, where he stated Iran needs nuclear energy, not a bomb, and would not succumb to military aggression or sanctions. He also claimed that threats unite Iran and that the enemy's military failures have led to attempts to close air and land routes, citing the prevention of Iranian media crews from entering the UN as proof of their fear of exposing their crimes.

Earlier, Iran announced its representatives held talks with the US via a Qatari mediator at the UN, conveying demands for a ceasefire on all fronts, an end to US aggression and naval blockades, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a security assessment meeting, reflecting Israeli assessments that the Iranian front could soon ignite. A senior officer outlined potential scenarios for the military, including a significant Israeli response to an Iranian missile attack, a US-backed war, or an independent Israeli operation in Iran.