Israel Assesss: Without a Near-Term Deal, the Risk of Renewed War with Iran Rises

In discussions held in Israel in recent days, the assessment emerged that if no agreement is reached between the United States and Iran in the near future, the chances of a return to full-scale fighting in the coming weeks will rise significantly. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a security consultation this evening (Thursday), and yesterday held a telephone situation assessment.

In the afternoon, the American president said the United States would strike Iran with great force again tonight. He claimed that "Tehran's defense systems, including the navy, air force, radar systems and air defense systems, along with most of its offensive capabilities, no longer exist." He stressed that in the "not-too-distant future" the United States would take control of the "oil island" of Kharg, as well as additional oil and gas infrastructure facilities in the country. Later, in a conversation with Fox News, Trump said he "would prefer to capture Kharg Island, if possible."

Trump also addressed criticism of the war heard inside and outside the United States, saying that "they (Iran) can say we surrender, and the fake news will say that is a victory for Iran." "They are finished, but the media refuses to admit it. I don't know if there will be soldiers on the ground, I don't want that, but if I have to, I will send a small group of soldiers there and they will finish them off once and for all." Trump further claimed that "we are killing them! They have nothing. They have no radar, missiles, they have less than 20 percent missiles," and said the Iranians are "begging for a deal."

After a series of threats heard last night, the United States military struck Iranian targets overnight in Tehran, in the port city of Bandar Abbas, in Sirik, Qeshm and in additional areas across Iran. In response, Iran once again launched ballistic missiles and UAVs toward American targets in Gulf states and in Jordan. During the American strikes, U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News: "If the Iranians do not sign a deal, we will bomb the hell out of them tonight."

At the start of the night, several explosions were heard across Iran, and after several reports of American aircraft and attacks, the U.S. military announced the strikes. In a CENTCOM statement it said: "U.S. forces have begun conducting additional self-defense strikes against multiple targets in Iran. The strikes are in response to Iran's unjustified and ongoing behavior."

The Iranian response was not long in coming and began with ballistic missile launches toward American targets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, while the Iranian hacker group "Handala" announced that it was conducting electronic warfare against U.S. forces in the region. The Houthis in Yemen also responded to the American strikes and warned: "American actions against Iran will have severe consequences for the global supply chain and trade."

This morning, despite the exchange of fire between the American military and Iran, a senior diplomatic source told CNN that "negotiations are still ongoing," after Trump said during the strikes that he had spoken directly with Iranian officials and added: "They asked me to stop the bombing." Hours later, explosions were reported in the Iranian port city of Sirik in the southeast of the country.