Israel will strike Iran alone if missile 'red line' is crossed, officials tell US

Israel has warned the United States that it is prepared to take unilateral military action if Iran’s ballistic missile programme crosses what it describes as a critical security threshold.

According to The Jerusalem Post, senior Israeli officials have told their American counterparts that Iran’s expanding missile capabilities pose an existential threat and cannot be allowed to develop further without consequences.

Security sources said Israeli plans to dismantle Iran’s missile production and launch infrastructure were conveyed in recent weeks through high-level diplomatic and military exchanges.

Officials reportedly outlined operational concepts, including targeted strikes on key manufacturing and storage facilities linked to the programme.

"We told the Americans we will strike alone if Iran crosses the red line we set on ballistic missiles," one source said, as per The Jerusalem Post.

The official added that Israel believes Iran has not yet crossed that threshold but is under constant surveillance.

'HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY' TO NEUTRALISE THREATS

Another senior defence figure said Israel would not permit Tehran to rebuild strategic weapons systems that could threaten the country’s survival, stressing that Jerusalem reserves full freedom of military action.

One official described the current situation as a "historic opportunity" to weaken Iran’s missile infrastructure and neutralise threats to Israel and neighbouring states. Plans to target additional connected facilities were also presented during recent discussions.

DOUBTS ABOUT AMERICA’S STRIKE PLAN

Several Israeli officials have expressed concern that US President Donald Trump may favour a limited military response, similar to recent American operations against the Houthis in Yemen.

They fear such an approach would leave Iran’s core capabilities intact.

According to defence sources, partial measures would fail to eliminate what Israel views as the major strategic threat.

Within the Israeli military, Brigadier General Omer Tishler, the incoming air force commander, is expected to accompany Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his upcoming visit to Washington.

Tishler will represent IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, as the post of defence attach in the US remains vacant.

NEXT ROUND OF TALKS WITH US

Netanyahu’s visit comes as another round of indirect US-Iran talks is set to take place in Oman. Preliminary discussions held in Muscat last week showed little sign of Tehran softening its stance.

Iran’s top security official is due to visit Oman this week, according to state news agency Islamic Republic News Agency, as preparations begin for the next round of negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that the timing and venue of future talks "will be determined through consultations conducted by Oman".

Negotiations were suspended last year after a brief but intense conflict between Israel and Iran, during which the US struck three Iranian nuclear sites. At the same time, a harsh crackdown on anti-government protests inside Iran strained relations with the West. Since then, diplomatic efforts have struggled to regain momentum amid soaring regional tensions.