Tel Aviv, Israel – The issue of Iranian threats has taken center stage in Israel’s political and security landscape, amid a noticeable escalation in the rhetoric of Israeli officials. There are also simultaneous assertions of a high state of military readiness. Alongside this, there are intensive diplomatic efforts aimed at pushing Washington to adopt a tougher stance toward Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs. This escalation comes at a time of growing speculation about the course of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran. Tel Aviv views this speculation with suspicion, considering any settlement that does not place strict limits on Iranian capabilities a direct threat to its national security.
Ben-Gvir: Netanyahu is capable of convincing Trump
In this context, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “doing an excellent job” managing the Iranian threat. He stressed that Israel is entering a critical phase that requires clarity of position and firmness in decision-making. Ben-Gvir outlined what he described as Israel’s constants in the coming period, foremost among them a firm rejection of a nuclear Iran possessing ballistic missile capabilities. He considered this a “red line that cannot be crossed.”
He also expressed his confidence in Netanyahu’s ability to communicate directly with US President Donald Trump and convince him of the necessity of adopting the hardline Israeli stance on this complex issue. He emphasized that this must be within the framework of full strategic coordination between the two sides.
Danny Danon: Offensive readiness and a warning against Tehran’s “deception”
For his part, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon, in an interview with Fox News, asserted that Israel has reached an advanced level of defensive and offensive preparedness. He issued a direct warning to Tehran, stating, “If they attack us, we will respond; and our response will be far more painful than the attacks they suffered from Israel last summer.” Regarding the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran, Danon expressed clear Israeli pessimism. He also pointed to what he described as Iran’s long history of duplicity. He said, “We hope the negotiations will succeed, but based on our experience and analysis of the events of the past decade, the Iranians say one thing and do the exact opposite.”
International demands and messages to the Iranian people
In a related context, Danon criticized what he considered international inaction in dealing with certain issues related to Iran, most notably the UN Security Council’s failure to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. He viewed this as a flaw in the international community’s approach to regional threats. In a striking political gesture, the Israeli ambassador addressed the Iranian people directly, calling on the international community to provide them with greater support. He said, “The people of Iran should know that we stand with them, we pray for them, and we believe that a day will soon come when they can live in a different and better world.” These statements, taken together, reflect a state of escalating tension in the region. Israel continues to raise the stakes in its political and military rhetoric, while simultaneously expressing deep skepticism about the effectiveness of ongoing diplomatic efforts. It has also affirmed that it will retain all its options, including military action, to prevent any threat to its strategic security.
