Iran weighing options against US, Israel as nuclear talks stall, Israeli defense official says

A senior Israeli defense official stated that Iran is weighing options to respond to US pressure as nuclear talks remain stalled. The official noted Iran's narrowed room for maneuver due to sanctions and a naval blockade, while Israel prepares for potential escalation that could spiral out of control.

A senior Israeli defense official said on Friday that Iran is weighing how to respond to growing US pressure as nuclear negotiations with Washington remain stalled. The official stated that Iran's room for maneuver has narrowed significantly, and that Tehran is discussing options including possibly influencing US elections. The official noted a large number of unresolved incidents recently, some of which could develop into attacks on the Israeli home front from multiple directions, not necessarily from Iran itself. Hezbollah factors into Iran's calculations if it enters a confrontation with Israel, the official added. The official stressed that economic conditions in Iran are deteriorating under US sanctions, with the rial reaching a new low of nearly 2.5 million to the dollar. A US naval blockade that began this week compounds the pressure, preventing even family visits to neighboring countries. Israeli defense officials assess that unless Iran attempts to break the blockade militarily or reaches understandings with the US, it will face worsening domestic problems. The IDF is preparing for the possibility that an Iranian initiative could spiral out of control, such as a cruise missile striking a US vessel and causing fatalities.