Fresh warnings from Israeli media and a wave of increasingly sharp rhetoric from both Tehran and Tel Aviv are fueling concerns that Israel may be moving closer to a direct military strike on Iran, even as senior officials publicly acknowledge the risks of sustained escalation.
Israel’s largest newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, has claimed that Iran’s ballistic missile production capacity could rise to as many as 3,000 missiles per month if Israel does not act. According to the report, Iranian engineers have shifted from producing solid-fuel ballistic missiles to primarily liquid-fuel systems. While liquid-fuel missiles are generally easier to detect and less technologically advanced, they can be manufactured more quickly and fitted with larger warheads, potentially allowing Iran to compensate for quality with sheer volume.
The newspaper alleged that the strategic shift followed Israeli strikes that destroyed much of Iran’s capacity to manufacture solid rocket fuel, including so-called planetary mixers. If accurate, the assessment suggests Israel views Iran’s missile industry as a growing and urgent threat, even if Tehran’s technological progress has been set back in certain areas.
The reporting coincides with public remarks by Amit Segal, a senior Israeli military correspondent for Channel 12 and Yedioth Ahronoth, who revealed deep divisions within Israel’s leadership over how to confront Iran. Segal said there is an ongoing debate in the Israeli cabinet over whether it is feasible to launch repeated military strikes on Iran every six to eight months. Unlike Iran’s nuclear program, he noted, the ballistic missile threat cannot be fully eliminated, raising questions about the economic and security costs of recurring confrontations that would likely trigger Iranian missile retaliation and disrupt civilian life in Israel.
According to Segal, no final decision has been made in either Israel or the United States, and the issue is expected to feature prominently in discussions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. Analysts say Washington’s stance will be decisive, with some Israeli commentators suggesting Trump would be inclined to back aggressive Israeli action if requested.
Iranian officials, meanwhile, have responded with defiant messaging. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran would not shy away from a new war with Israel and claimed Iran is fully prepared for confrontation. Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, said Iran has chosen a path of resistance and is ready to thwart what he described as enemy plots.
Iran has also signaled heightened military readiness beyond its borders. The Iranian Navy announced it has dispatched two naval task forces to protect Iranian shipping in international waters, citing what it called American piracy. The flotillas are reportedly en route around South Africa, underscoring Tehran’s intent to project power and safeguard trade routes amid rising tensions.
Additional developments have added to regional unease, including the first confirmed satellite imagery indicating the presence of Russian-made Su-35 fighter jets at an Iranian airbase. While Iranian authorities have not officially commented, defense analysts view the aircraft as a significant upgrade to Iran’s aging air force and a potential factor in future military calculations.
At the same time, Iranian officials have made inflammatory accusations against Israel, including claims that Israeli authorities staged attacks abroad to manipulate public opinion and prevent emigration from Israel. Such statements, while unverified, reflect the increasingly hostile tone between the two sides.
