Netanyahu Signals Israel May Act Unilaterally Against Iran Amid US-Iran Talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signalled the possibility of unilateral military action against Iran, even as diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington continue to advance. Speaking on Wednesday, Netanyahu referenced statements by the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ahmad Vahidi, who he claimed indicated Iran’s intention to continue developing nuclear weapons. “We heard today that the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ahmad Vahidi, stated that Iran intends to continue developing nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said. “As Prime Minister of Israel, I will not allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons.” While acknowledging the United States as Israel’s greatest ally, Netanyahu stressed that Israel is prepared to act independently to ensure its security.
The remarks came as Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed Al-Ansari, announced on Tuesday that mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran had reached an “advanced stage,” with both sides exchanging draft proposals. Al-Ansari stated that efforts are ongoing with all involved parties to reach a diplomatic solution and end the conflict through negotiations.
The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran escalated on 28 February when Washington and Tel Aviv launched a war against Iran. According to Iranian authorities, more than 3,000 people were killed. In response, Iran targeted assets belonging to the US in several regional countries. In June, Qatar joined Pakistan in a mediation team seeking to bring Washington and Tehran together, resulting in the signing of a memorandum of understanding on 18 June that laid the groundwork for negotiations towards a final agreement. However, the talks later stalled, with disagreements over maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz proving to be major obstacles. Tensions flared again between 8 and 24 July when the US launched attacks on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate by targeting what it described as US military facilities and equipment in several Arab states, specifically naming Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait.