Israel has passed on intelligence to the United States suggesting that Iran is considering the use of chemical weapons against its opponents. Israeli officials regard this threat as particularly dangerous, but there is no consensus in Washington as to the reliability of the information received. Some US officials suspect that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is attempting to persuade President Donald Trump to resume large-scale military operations against Tehran.
Briefly about the main points
- Israel has passed on intelligence to the US regarding Iran’s possible use of chemical weapons.
- According to Israeli estimates, Tehran is developing missile-based delivery systems for chemical agents.
- Some US officials have doubts about the reliability of the intelligence received.
- The Gulf States also reacted with scepticism to the warnings received from Israel.
Israel claims there is a new threat from Iran
Israeli intelligence services have passed on information to their American counterparts regarding Iran’s suspected preparations to use chemical weapons. Representatives of several Gulf states have received similar warnings.
According to The New York Times, Israeli officials claim that Tehran is working on technologies that would enable it to deliver toxic chemical agents via missiles. The possibility of covertly transporting such substances into other countries is also being considered.
Israeli representatives are trying to convince the American side that the potential chemical threat is more pressing than Iran’s nuclear programme, which had previously been one of the main arguments in favour of military operations against Tehran.
At the same time, no evidence has been made public to suggest that a specific chemical attack is being planned. Iran has previously denied developing chemical weapons.
Opinions in Washington are divided over the Israeli intelligence assessment
American officials reacted in different ways to the report from the Israeli security services.
Some members of the US administration regard the warnings as serious, particularly in light of Iran’s recent threats against Washington and its allies. Other officials suggest that the government of the Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu uses intelligence assessments to step up pressure on the White House. In their view, Israel is seeking to persuade Donald Trump return to the active phase of hostilities against Iran.
Representatives of the Gulf states, who had examined the relevant documents, also expressed doubts. According to the publication, the Israeli side presented an assessment of Tehran’s capabilities but did not provide convincing evidence of imminent preparations for an attack.
Despite the warnings, the Israeli civil defence services’ exercises this week did not focus on responding to chemical attacks.
The US is considering the possibility of further strikes against Iran
Reports of a chemical threat emerged against the backdrop of a new escalation between Washington and Tehran.
The US Armed Forces’ Central Command has drawn up a plan for possible strikes against Iran, the implementation of which could have begun as early as Wednesday, 4 November, following the US mid-term elections.
However, the existence of a military plan does not mean that President Trump has decided to launch a new operation.
Even within the US administration itself, there is no consensus on how to proceed. Some officials are in favour of continuing economic pressure and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, whilst others support the use of military force.
At the same time, diplomatic talks are continuing, with Qatar acting as a mediator. The Iranian side is insisting on a cessation of hostilities and the lifting of US sanctions.
At present, neither Washington nor any international organisations have released any independent confirmation that Iran has decided to use chemical weapons or has identified targets for such strikes.
