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New Israeli intelligence allegations that Iran is considering using chemical weapons against its adversaries are dividing U.S. officials, with some viewing the claims as part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s effort to persuade President Donald Trump to resume large-scale military operations against the Islamic Republic, The New York Times reported on November 3.
Israel has shared intelligence with Washington and several Gulf countries alleging that Iran is developing the capability to deliver chemical agents through ballistic missiles or smuggle them into Israel and other countries to carry out attacks.
During discussions with U.S. intelligence agencies and other officials over the past two weeks, Israeli officials have portrayed the chemical weapons threat as more urgent than Iran’s nuclear program, according to the report.
However, the allegations have been met with considerable skepticism, particularly among officials who believe Netanyahu is attempting to build the case for a renewed military campaign against Iran.
Some U.S. officials view the intelligence disclosures as part of a pressure campaign aimed at drawing Washington back into a more intense phase of the conflict, while several Gulf countries have similarly questioned Israel’s assessment and suspect it is seeking to encourage a return to war.
A regional official told The New York Times that Israeli representatives presented assessments suggesting Iran was working to make its chemical weapons capabilities operational but did not provide supporting evidence.
Gulf officials reportedly dismissed the briefings as unserious, expressing doubts that Tehran was developing concrete plans to employ such weapons.
Other American officials, however, believe the warnings should be taken seriously, citing a series of recent intelligence assessments concerning potential Iranian attacks against U.S. interests in the region.
Tehran acknowledged in 2003 that it had developed chemical capabilities during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s but said it subsequently dismantled them.
Iranian officials have since repeatedly denied possessing chemical weapons and previously described similar accusations as part of an Israeli psychological warfare campaign.
The New York Times also noted that uncertainty remains over whether Iran could effectively deploy such weapons or whether its leadership would ever authorize their use.
Israeli intelligence officials claim Tehran is advancing technology to mount chemical agents on missiles or smuggle them across borders, while weapons experts and U.S. officials have raised questions about the ability to disperse chemical agents effectively. The use of drones as potential delivery platforms was also mentioned in the report.
Adding to questions surrounding the urgency of the Israeli warnings, Israel’s Home Front Command has not made chemical weapons preparedness a major component of its emergency exercises this week and has not issued widespread public guidance on the alleged threat.
The intelligence campaign is unfolding as Washington and Tehran remain locked in a confrontation while diplomatic efforts continue to prevent a renewed outbreak of large-scale fighting.
The U.S. has significantly expanded its military presence in the region, with naval forces, strike capabilities and air defenses positioned for a potential new campaign against Iran.
The New York Times reported that U.S. Central Command had prepared plans for a relatively short but intense round of strikes that could begin as early as November 4, following the U.S. midterm elections. The plans would require authorization from Trump, while diplomats continue exploring an agreement involving the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran’s nuclear program.
The latest allegations therefore add another element to Israel’s broader effort to convince Washington that the confrontation with Iran cannot be resolved through economic pressure and negotiations alone.
With Netanyahu pressing for renewed military action, the chemical weapons accusations is clearly just another argument in the growing campaign for a return to war.
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satanyahu in front of the un : ” warning : iranians are developping steel enrichment process and could have sharp knives very soon.”
apparently the white helmets have been seen opening a barber shop in tel aviv
the globalist policy play book has two uses. repeat and repeat. babies in incubators next week
and somehow add russia, hamas, china or iran in to every hasbara sentence