Iran preparations and Israeli denials
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz denied reports of a rift with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir over Iran.
Channel 12’s Yaron Avraham reported that Netanyahu instructed unspecified military action that defense officials feared could trigger a swift confrontation before Israel’s elections, with Zamir warning of a miscalculation causing immediate, dramatic escalation. Army Radio reported similar details, citing two senior security officials.
i24 News reported that Zamir and senior commanders supported military action but opposed acting just before the elections. At Netanyahu’s request, officials discussed preparations; commanders warned that visible preparations could prompt Iran to strike first. Whether these reports concern the same proposed action is unclear.
Netanyahu denied a clash and described an attempt to prevent Iranian election interference. He also said: “The Left will not eliminate the nuclear threat — Iran will destroy us”.
Katz said coordination had been full since he took office, credited it with historic security achievements and said security alone guided decisions. He said Israel had no intention of initiating an attack before the elections, while pledging a forceful response if Iran attacked.
He called opposition attacks on their judgment shameful and irresponsible, saying they could not publicly discuss the details.
The Prime Minister’s Office called CNN’s report of a delayed strike “fake news”; a senior cabinet official also denied it.
CNN said Israel prepared to strike in recent days but Washington requested a delay and signaled a possible joint operation later. It said Netanyahu sought renewed strikes but Trump withheld approval ahead of the U.S. midterms and that Israel’s reliance on U.S. missile defense support, with defensive munitions strained by war, partly explained the delay.
A source told CNN plans were ready and action could follow the midterms. CNN also cited a Zamir–U.S. Joint Chiefs chairman conversation in which an attack was described as harmful to the elections, and said U.S. forces were ready to attack within 96 hours of Trump’s order.
The IDF said it remained highly alert on all fronts and that decisions were guided solely by security, professional, objective and national considerations, calling suggestions otherwise misleading.
The New York Times reported a growing risk of renewed full-scale U.S.-Iran war, citing U.S. intelligence that Iranian plots against American diplomats, including Middle East ambassadors, and officials on U.S. soil had moved closer to execution.
Iranian leaders reportedly anticipated another major U.S.-Israeli offensive. Security measures included withdrawing B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain. U.S. Central Command reportedly expanded potential targets to energy infrastructure and facilities critical to Iran’s economy.
Reuters reported that Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani officials were expected in Tehran on Monday for regional coordination talks.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said secretary Mohsen Rezaei would meet Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin and Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. It described the meeting involving the Mecca Pact countries as an Iranian initiative intended to promote stability and peace.
Cyprus naval agreement
Israel’s Defense Ministry said an agreement signed Monday provides Cyprus with a new Israel Shipyards offshore patrol vessel carrying advanced Rafael naval systems and upgrades to its existing Israeli-built Commodore Andreas Ioannides.
The ministry said the vessels would expand patrol, surveillance and search-and-rescue missions and strengthen Cyprus’s response to maritime security challenges.
