US Official: Military Cooperation on Iran to Continue, Political Decisions Complex
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
A U.S. official stated that military cooperation with Israel on Iran will continue, but political decisions for potential strikes are complex for a transitional government. This follows reports of Israel considering an attack before elections, which Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Katz denied as "fake news." The official noted that while operational cooperation is professional, political decisions could be complicated. Preparations for a potential strike were reportedly halted due to opposition from the Chief of Staff and concerns about miscalculation.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- U.S. official: Military cooperation on Iran to continue, political decisions are complex.
- Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Katz denied reports of an attack before elections.
- A transitional government's authority for political decisions on military action is questioned.
- Preparations for a potential strike on Iran were reportedly halted due to opposition.
- Western diplomats fear Iran might react to minor Israeli actions, expecting an attack.
A senior U.S. official told i24NEWS that while military cooperation with Israel regarding Iran will persist, political decisions about potential actions are a separate matter that could complicate the situation. The official's remarks come amid reports that Israel was considering an attack on Iran before upcoming elections, a notion denied by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
The U.S. official explained that operational military cooperation is viewed as a professional, non-political issue. However, making a political decision for a military operation might be problematic for a transitional government, unless it is clear that such a government is authorized to make these decisions. This comes as Israel operates under the principle of governmental continuity, with the current government continuing its duties until a new cabinet is sworn in.
According to Israeli legal precedent, a caretaker government is expected to act with maximum reasonableness and restraint. While urgent security matters are permissible, long-term decisions or drastic policy changes are considered more complex. This distinction is crucial when considering potential actions against Iran.
Earlier reports, citing diplomatic correspondent Amihai Stein, suggested that Netanyahu had explored initiating preparations for an attack on Iran, but these plans were reportedly halted. One reason cited was the potential for miscalculation given the current timing. The Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, reportedly opposed these preparatory actions, which were subsequently canceled. Western diplomats have expressed concern that Iran is on edge and might react to even minor Israeli actions, believing an attack is imminent.
Both Netanyahu and the office of Israel Katz have officially dismissed reports of an intended attack before the elections as "fake news." The article also references a separate report about former President Donald Trump halting an Israeli strike, which was also denied by Netanyahu's office.
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