Israel warns the US that Iran is considering chemical weapons use - report
An Israeli intelligence warning that Iran may use chemical weapons has divided officials in Washington and raised doubts among Gulf governments, The New York Times reported Tuesday. The disagreement centers on how to interpret information Israel has circulated about Tehran’s intentions. While some officials see a threat requiring serious attention, others question whether the warning is intended to build support for renewed military action.
According to the newspaper, some American officials believe Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government is seeking to persuade the Trump administration to resume major combat operations against Iran. Others point to a series of warnings about possible attacks on American interests as grounds for taking the intelligence seriously. Will Trump really cancel aid to Israel? Similar skepticism has emerged in Gulf countries, where Israel shared some of its findings.
Several officials questioned whether Tehran was preparing to use chemical weapons and suspected the warning was aimed at encouraging Washington and its partners to intensify the war. Suggested articles Iran's Parliament Speaker is rumored to have met with Iraqi militia leaders in recent days | i24NEWS, Alex Schloss Israel asks Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from entering the war if the conflict with Iran resumes - report | i24NEWS 'Iran wants to make a deal; that could happen,' Trump says as Qatari mediators travel to Tehran | LIVE BLOG | i24NEWS
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article says Israel shared 'some of its findings' with Gulf countries and that officials there were sceptical. It never says what the New York Times reported: a regional official said Israel presented its assessments without supporting evidence, and Gulf governments regarded the claims as lacking seriousness. Without this, a reader takes the Gulf doubts as suspicion of Israel's motives set against shared evidence, when the reported basis of the doubt is that no evidence was shown.
How we know
- The Jerusalem Post reported“but had not shared supporting evidence”Israel warns US that Iran may use chemical weapons, but Washington questions intelligence - report (opens in a new tab)
- Ynet News (English) reported“Israeli representatives presented their conclusions without supplying supporting evidence”Report: Israel warns US that Iran may use chemical weapons against regional adversaries (opens in a new tab)
- Anadolu Agency (English) reported“without providing supporting evidence”Israeli claims about Iran’s chemical weapons divide US officials: Report (opens in a new tab)
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article reports an accusation that Iran is considering chemical weapons use and never gives Iran's position. Other outlets reported that Iran has repeatedly denied possessing chemical weapons and calls such accusations Israeli psychological warfare, and that Iran's UN mission did not respond to the Times. Without this, the reader has no Iranian account set against the Israeli warning.
How we know
- Anadolu Agency (English) reported“Iran has repeatedly denied possessing chemical weapons, previously dismissing such accusations as part of an Israeli psychological warfare campaign”Israeli claims about Iran’s chemical weapons divide US officials: Report (opens in a new tab)
- Ynet News (English) reported“Iran's UN mission did not respond to a request for comment”Report: Israel warns US that Iran may use chemical weapons against regional adversaries (opens in a new tab)