Iran has no chemical capability threatening Israel, defense official says
"At this point, Iran has no chemical capability that poses a threat to the State of Israel," a senior Israeli defense official told ynet Wednesday morning. The remarks came after a New York Times report that Israel had warned the United States it possessed intelligence indicating that Iran was considering using chemical weapons against its enemies. According to the report, the intelligence shared by Israel with the United States was accepted by some of the American officials briefed on it, while others expressed "deep skepticism."
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
Ynet says some American officials expressed "deep skepticism" but never says why. The same New York Times report says they saw the warning as part of a pressure campaign by Netanyahu's government to get the Trump administration to resume large-scale fighting against Iran. It also says Gulf officials were given assessments without supporting evidence. Without this, a reader treats Israel's warning as neutral intelligence that some officials doubted on technical grounds, not as a claim suspected of serving a push for war.
How we know
- The Jerusalem Post reported“viewing it as part of a pressure campaign by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government aimed at convincing the Trump administration to resume large-scale fighting against Iran”Israel warns US that Iran may use chemical weapons, but Washington questions intelligence - report (opens in a new tab)
- The Jerusalem Post reported“had presented Gulf countries with assessments suggesting Iran was working to make its chemical weapons operational, 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)
- i24News reported“some American officials believe Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government is seeking to persuade the Trump administration to resume major combat operations against Iran”Israel warns the US that Iran is considering chemical weapons use - report (opens in a new tab)
Referring to the report, the senior Israeli defense official said: "We are monitoring the threat, and if necessary, we will know how to act and inform the public." The New York Times also reported that the U.S. and Israeli militaries had developed specific plans to resume strikes against Iran following the American midterm elections held over the past day. Based on the report, it appears that there has indeed been development concerning chemical weapons, identified by intelligence officials, but not at a point where it poses a threat to Israel.
U.S. President Donald Trump said overnight in a telephone interview with the Financial Times: "I have no immediate plan to attack Iran. Our situation with Tehran is excellent. It looks like we're getting everything we want." Trump later told The Wall Street Journal: "Iran was part of the loss. But I did the right thing. I would do it again." Against the backdrop of the Republicans' defeat in the midterm elections, it is worth noting that the new Congress will not be sworn in until January 3, 2027.
This gives Trump a relatively broad window to act while the current Congress remains in place. In addition, the U.S. president has considerable latitude in setting foreign and security policy. As a result, once a war begins, if and when it does, it is difficult to believe that it could be stopped through congressional intervention.
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