Iran warns of wider retaliation as Israel reportedly steps up readiness for possible strike
Written by AI from aljazeera.com's report. Not checked by a person.
Iran says it would expand the war beyond the region if attacked. Israeli media report that Israel's security cabinet ordered the military to step up preparations for a possible attack on Iran.
Israeli media reported on Wednesday evening that Israel's security cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered the military to step up preparations for a possible attack on Iran. Public broadcaster KAN said the directives could lead the military to carry out activities that might trigger a war. According to KAN, the directives were made public after opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot told Netanyahu, who is serving as caretaker prime minister, not to deploy the military without a direct and immediate threat until the next government is formed.
Iran warned it would expand the war beyond the region if attacked. Security chief Mohsen Rezaei wrote in a social media post that if the US launches another war, every military base involved, "from West Asia to Europe", would be a legitimate target.
Al Jazeera's reporter in Tehran said the leadership was discussing whether to appoint Rezaei as chief negotiator. He also said some voices in Tehran suggest Iran might take pre-emptive action if the current situation drags on. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the current lead negotiator, told Al Jazeera that "the ball is now in the American court" and that a lack of trust in the US stands in the way of an agreement.
In Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US economic pressure campaign is so effective that resuming large-scale military operations is unnecessary. President Donald Trump has said he is prepared to return to war if a diplomatic track offered by Qatar fails. Each side's statements are its own claims.
