Former head of Israel's Intelligence Department General Tamir Hayman warned that the policy towards Iran served the Tehran regime, criticizing the strategy followed in the recent years.
Hayman, the director of the Institute for National Security Research at Tel Aviv University, cautioned that Iran has refrained from entering into serious negotiations on a nuclear deal. He suggested that the new Israeli cabinet establish a new strategy based on a joint US-Israeli military threat of war against Tehran or a serious return to the talks.
Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said the Israeli Air Force may attack nuclear sites in Iran within two or three years.
Hayman touched on Gantz's speech, saying it was clear Israel could attack Iran, but it would be costly, noting that it won't be like the attack on Iraqi and Syrian reactors.
Speaking to Haaretz, the official explained that Iran is aware that Israel planned on attacking its nuclear sites, which were built in dozens of underground locations and heavily secured.
Hayman warned that such an attack would ignite a war against Iran, which could expand into a regional conflict, adding that Hezbollah in Lebanon may get involved.
He was doubtful about the feasibility of an attack against Iran, noting that a large-scale military attack may achieve adverse results, and this option would only make Iran pick up the pace of its nuclear program.
At this stage, Iran is not rushing toward acquiring a nuclear bomb but is satisfied with being a threshold state to deter regional countries, according to the Israeli official.
Hayman further said that a nuclear Iran would reintroduce the term "nuclear terrorism," meaning a "dirty bomb" could be accessible to Hezbollah or Palestinian factions.
The only thing that must be recognized is that Israel's current strategy has failed, and it would lead to worse results, he warned.
Hayman asserted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government must realize that the current Israeli strategy is unsuccessful.
He suggested that Tehran would be faced with two options: proposing a new nuclear deal that it won't reject or devising a plan to attack Iran without a regional war ensuing by obtaining explicit US support to deter it from developing its nuclear program.
US support would be linked to Israel's policy on other fronts, Hayman said.
Moreover, he warned that Israel must be cautious in the Palestinian arena, human rights issues, and shared values with the US.
Regarding the protests in Iran, Hayman believed they don't currently pose a threat to the Tehran regime. The rallies may lead to a regime change or its overthrow.
He noted that the Iranian regime was established after its 1979 revolution, and that it will do everything to ensure another revolution won't topple it.
