Israel’s assessment of the situation in Iran does not indicate immediate U.S. military action against the regime. The Jerusalem Post reports that although tensions remain high and Washington continues weighing its next steps, discussions are unfolding in terms of weeks rather than days. This delay reflects planning gaps between the United States and Israel, particularly regarding available intelligence and differing assessments of Iran’s intentions.
Beyond the question of a strike, Israeli officials focused on the direction of US-Iran diplomacy. The central concern, they said, was not that there would be an agreement, but that there would be a partial arrangement that addresses Iran’s nuclear program while leaving its ballistic-missile program outside the framework.
In Israel’s view, ballistic missiles represent an immediate and growing threat. The missiles strengthen Iran’s deterrence posture and could provide strategic cover even before Iran crossed any nuclear threshold, Israeli officials said. The issue repeatedly came up in discussions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, they said.
Tehran has expressed willingness to open dialogue on possible limits and oversight of its ballistic missile program, rather than fully dismantling it. Israeli officials have warned that any deal that does not address missiles could allow Iran’s arsenal to continue expanding until the threat becomes too great to ignore.
Therefore, the United States must decide in the coming weeks whether to press for a broader agreement—one that risks collapsing negotiations—or to settle for a narrower deal that excludes missiles and regional proxies.
Both pathways carry significant risks, Israeli officials say. Whether it leads to another regional war or continued expansion of the Islamic Republic’s weapons, Israel and its people remain in the regime’s crosshairs. The Fellowship and our supporters pray for their protection with each gift of security we help provide.
