President Donald J. Trump at the White House (White House Press Secretary)
Middle East on edge as Trump nears decision on massive Iran strike
World Israel News Staff
Iran has threatened to strike Tel Aviv if US President Donald Trump orders a new wave of attacks on Tehran, as Trump revealed he is “close to making a decision” on what he called a “massive attack. Bigger than ever before.” Trump told Axios the US is fully prepared, adding that Israel “would join in two minutes if I ask them to,” though he insisted Washington does not need Israeli assistance.
According to The New York Times, Iranian officials warned they would retaliate by targeting Tel Aviv and directing the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen to blockade the Bab al-Mandab Strait if the US expands its offensive. Tehran also reportedly rejected a US-backed ceasefire proposal delivered by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, insisting any agreement must resolve the future of the Strait of Hormuz.
Israel, meanwhile, signaled it is preparing for another round of fighting. Bomb shelters were opened across the country as tensions escalated, while IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Ella Waweya said the military is in “full readiness” for combat with Iran, stressing that the lessons of October 7 mean Israel will no longer wait to absorb the first blow. Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed the warning, saying, “If Iran attacks Israel, it will suffer a crushing blow,” amid Western intelligence assessments that Tehran may seek to drag Israel back into the conflict.
Trump also warned that the US will use seized Iranian assets to compensate ships damaged in Gulf attacks, prompting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to denounce the move as “incendiary” and warn it could set a dangerous global precedent for the confiscation of state assets.
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