Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has issued a stark warning to the United States regarding Iran's nuclear program, citing new intelligence that suggests Tehran is making significant advancements towards nuclear weapons capability.
According to reports from Israel's Kan public broadcaster, Gallant informed US officials that the threat is not limited to Iran's progress in uranium enrichment. Israeli intelligence has observed concerning changes in Iran's weapons group, specifically in the device that allows for the assembly of enriched uranium to create an explosion.
This warning comes as the joint Israel-US strategic forum known as "Leshem" prepares to convene. The meeting, which focuses on the Iranian nuclear threat, was initially scheduled for Thursday but has been postponed following recent diplomatic tensions.
In a related development, Iraqi militias affiliated with Iran claim to have launched a drone attack on a target in Eilat, Israel. IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari addressed the broader regional tensions in an interview with Al-Arabiya, stating, "Iran is the one behind the scenes wanting escalation in the region."
The cyber dimension of Iran's activities are also concerning. Gabi Portnoy, head of Israel's National Cyber Array, revealed at a recent conference that Iran has expanded its cyberattacks since October 7, targeting not only Israel but also several other countries, including some of its own allies.
"Iranian cyber aggression is an international problem, not just an Israeli one, and therefore the solution must be international," Portnoy emphasized.
As tensions continue to escalate, the international community faces mounting pressure to address Iran's nuclear ambitions and its broader destabilizing activities in the region.
