Report: Israel Prepared for Extensive US Strikes on Iran That Were Not Executed Last Night

SadaNews - Israel estimated that US President Donald Trump would intensify attacks on Iran during the night between Friday and Saturday. However, as the hours passed, it became evident that he decided to hold off and give Tehran an additional opportunity, albeit not for a long period. Notably, the United States did not announce the execution of strikes that night, marking the first time after 13 consecutive nights of exchange of strikes.

The "Ynet" website quoted an Israeli official stating, "Trump does not really want to attack Iran, but he is getting closer to it because he sees no alternative."

Israel views this postponement as not altering the fundamental estimates, as it believes that Iran will not accept the US conditions and that the chances for a permanent agreement with it are virtually non-existent.

According to the report, Qatar and Oman exerted significant pressure on Iran to show flexibility to avoid an escalation of the US attacks, which were seen as almost certain.

Despite Trump giving Tehran an additional opportunity, the Israeli estimation indicates that it will not lead to an agreement; rather, Iran may once again have succeeded in "buying time," even if briefly. Therefore, the state of alert in Israel and the region remains high.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet Trump in Washington next Tuesday, on the sidelines of the memorial ceremony for Senator Lindsey Graham, with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid also participating in the ceremony.

On Friday, Trump stated that talks with Iran are still ongoing, adding, "They are talking to us now and want to make a deal. I don’t think they are ready yet, but I am willing to listen. However, they cannot possess a nuclear weapon."

In contrast, the American "New York Times" reported that Trump held a meeting with senior advisors and members of his administration to discuss the possibility of intensifying attacks on Iran but later confirmed that he had not made a final decision, indicating that he prefers a diplomatic solution if possible.

In a development that could justify American intensification of its attacks, the "New York Times" reported that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is more inclined than his father to pursue the possession of a nuclear weapon, based on American intelligence estimates.

At the same time, the "Wall Street Journal" quoted a senior American official stating that Trump has grown skeptical about the effectiveness of the diplomatic track and has entered a "revenge mode," adding that he referred to Iranian officials during a meeting in the White House as "scum" and "crazy."

According to the report, Trump is feeling frustrated because the war he expected to end within weeks continues without a clear horizon, while some of his advisors fear that its economic and military implications will negatively affect the Republican Party's chances in the midterm elections.

In a related context, the "New York Times" revealed that Iran rejected a ceasefire proposal offered by Trump through Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaydi, asserting that it does not wish for a temporary agreement that does not resolve the issue of control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials also warned that if the United States expands its attacks to include the capital Tehran or vital infrastructure, Iran will escalate the war in the region, including targeting Tel Aviv, and demanding that the Houthis in Yemen close the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

The report indicated that Trump announced via his platform "Truth Social" that any damage inflicted on ships would be compensated from the frozen Iranian funds under US control, considering this measure "fair and just."