US President Donald Trump may order renewed limited military strikes against Iran amid what appears to be a deadlock in talks between the Chinese and US presidents last week in Beijing and the American leader’s growing frustration with Tehran.
On Saturday, Israeli officials said the military is at “peak readiness” for renewed conflict, according to Yedioth Ahronoth’s military correspondent Itamar Eichner.
Sources in Israel said US administration officials had hoped Beijing would pressure Tehran into a compromise following Trump’s talks with President Xi Jinping last week.
Eichner said assessments in Israel suggest Trump is unlikely to go “all in” with an order to renew fighting aimed at toppling the Iranian regime.
The assassination of Iranian top leaders did not lead to the collapse of the regime, while China will not really help Trump convince Tehran to accept his demands in an agreement.
The newspaper said Israel and the US are conducting intensive preparations for a possible resumption of fighting, with coordination taking place at the highest levels of the Israeli army and the Mossad.
On Sunday, Trump spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed Iran, Axios reported.
Eichner wrote that the assessment is that Iran will attempt to stall with the US so that any military confrontation drags on until after the start of the FIFA World Cup tournament on June 11.
Trump, by contrast, would prefer to end the conflict before the tournament begins, with the US hosting the event alongside Canada and Mexico.
According to the newspaper, Israeli assessments suggest Trump will likely settle for a limited strike, such as attacks on power stations and bridges.
From the American perspective, this would lead to significant damage to Iran. Trump may also authorize a ground operation, although officials say he is wary of becoming entangled in a broader conflict.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials said they believe the chances of renewed fighting in the coming days stand at 50 percent, underscoring how much depends on the decision of one man alone, Eichner wrote.
At the same time, Netanyahu has avoided convening the broader cabinet over the past week. Officials suggested this may be an effort to lull the enemy into complacency.
Eyal Zisser, a right-wing theorist, said there is a prevailing fear that Trump has had enough and might cut a deal with Iran at any cost, acting as a potential capitulation to Iranian demands.
