'Bibi waiting for talks to collapse, Israeli attack on Iran will be quick, week-long': Report

Israel will launch a swift strike at nuclear sites in Iran once talks with the US collapse, according to a report. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have been conducting exercises and other preparations for a possible strike in Iran. 

 

Israel's intelligence community believed until the past few days that the talks would yield results, but is now thinking talks could soon break down, US media Axios quoted unnamed sources. The report added that the IDF thinks the operational window to strike Iran successfully could close soon and hence will have to move fast. However, it is unclear why the IDF believes a strike wouldn't be that effective if it waits. 

 

"Bibi is waiting for the nuclear talks to collapse and for the moment Trump will be disappointed about the negotiations and open to giving him the go-ahead," Axios quoted an Israeli source. The Trump administration is also reportedly concerned that Netanyahu might make his move even without Trump's permission. 

 

As per sources, Israel's military campaign, if it happens, will not be a one-off one, but one that lasts at least a week. This has stoked fears among countries in the region that there could be a widespread radioactive fallout, besides the fears of a war.

 

The IDF is reportedly preparing for the mission by conducting exercises and the US is aware of the fact. Earlier, a CNN report had mentioned how there is a movement of air munitions and the completion of an air exercise. However, the drills could also be to pressure Iran to drop key tenets of its nuclear programme by signalling the consequences, the CNN report added.  

 

The Israeli government has also held a highly sensitive meeting earlier this week to assess the progress of the talks, and the chance of an Israeli strike on an Iranian nuclear facility has gone up significantly in recent months. The statement made by the Iranian leadership that there was no way it would remove all of its uranium makes the chance of a strike more likely.

 

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has announced that the fifth round of indirect Iran-U.S. talks will be held on Friday. Baqaei said Iran remained determined to pursue its right to benefit from peaceful nuclear energy, including enrichment, and the lifting of the sanctions.

 

Middle East