The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, Thursday, citing Arab officials, that “Tehran threatened, through secret diplomatic channels, that the oil-rich Gulf states and other allies of the United States in the Middle East would be targeted if their lands or airspace were used to attack Iran.”
According to the newspaper’s sources, “Israel threatened Tehran with severe retaliation after Iran fired about 180 ballistic missiles at Israel earlier this month, which prompted some Israeli officials to demand devastating retaliatory strikes against nuclear facilities or oil infrastructure in Tehran.”
Against this backdrop, Iran warned that it would “respond with devastating strikes on Israeli civilian infrastructure, and will retaliate against any Arab country that facilitates the attack on its territory.”
The newspaper pointed out that “Among the countries that received the warning were Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other countries on whose territory the American army is deployed.”
According to the officials, “These countries informed the Biden administration that they do not want the United States or Israel to use their military infrastructure or airspace in any offensive operations against Iran.”
According to the sources, “There is a risk of strikes on the oil infrastructure of the Arab Gulf states, as well as on American military installations and employees in the region.”
Earlier yesterday, Thursday, three American and Israeli officials said that US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had come close to understanding the scope of the Israeli response against Iran.
The officials indicated to Axios that “the Biden administration accepts the idea that Israel will soon launch a major attack on Iran, but it fears that strikes on certain targets will lead to a significant escalation of the regional war.”
A senior Israeli official said current plans were still more aggressive than the White House would like.
The Israeli security cabinet was held on Thursday evening to receive a briefing on plans to attack Iran and understandings with the Biden administration, according to Israeli officials, and the mini-security cabinet is likely to authorize Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant to determine the timing of the anticipated attack.
American and Israeli officials said that working-level consultations between the United States and Israel on responding to Iran continued on Thursday and will continue in the coming days.
Gallant will likely travel to Washington early next week to continue discussions with White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Source: “The Wall Street Journal” + RT
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Israel attacks Iran Today
Escalating Tensions: Iran’s Threats and Israel’s Response
The Middle East is once again on the brink of chaos as tensions between Iran and Israel continue to escalate. According to a recent report in The Wall Street Journal, Tehran has threatened to target oil-rich Gulf states and other US allies in the region if they allow their lands or airspace to be used for an attack on Iran.
The warning comes after Iran fired around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel earlier this month, prompting Israeli officials to demand severe retaliation against Tehran’s nuclear facilities or oil infrastructure. However, Iran has warned that it will respond with devastating strikes on Israeli civilian infrastructure and retaliate against any Arab country that facilitates an attack on its territory.
Gulf states have urged the US to prevent Israel from bombing Iran’s oil sites, with Saudi Arabia being one of the countries that received a warning from Iran. As reported by Reuters, [1], Iran warned Saudi Arabia that it could not guarantee the safety of the Gulf kingdom’s oil facilities if Israel were given permission to attack Iran.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials have pledged to retaliate against Iran’s attack, with the security cabinet meeting to discuss a potential response. However, as reported by The Times of Israel, [3], no decision has been made yet on whether to attack Iran.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the US is a key player in the region, with its military presence in several Arab countries, including Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. As reported by The Washington Post, [2], the US is closely monitoring the situation and is likely to play a key role in any future developments.
the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel have significant implications for the entire Middle East region. The threat of retaliation and counter-retaliation has created a volatile situation, with multiple countries and interests involved. As the situation continues to unfold, it is crucial to monitor developments closely and to work towards a peaceful resolution that addresses the concerns of all parties involved.
References:
[1] Reuters
[2] The Washington Post
[3] The Times of Israel
