Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has stated that the country is prepared to resume military operations against Iran, noting that action now hinges on approval from the United States.
In a video statement on Thursday, Katz said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is fully ready for both defensive and offensive operations, with strategic targets already identified.
He further indicated that Israel is awaiting a signal from Washington, particularly regarding efforts to dismantle Iran’s leadership structure and weaken its critical infrastructure, including energy and power systems.
The current tensions follow the outbreak of hostilities earlier this year, which reportedly led to the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. His successor—believed to be his son—has yet to make a public appearance, fueling uncertainty about the leadership situation in Tehran.
Katz warned that any renewed offensive would be significantly more intense, targeting what he described as the most sensitive areas of Iran’s state structure, building on previous strikes that have already inflicted substantial damage.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which took effect on April 8, to allow room for diplomatic engagement.
Efforts to resume negotiations, potentially in Pakistan, remain uncertain as the fragile truce holds.
The broader conflict has had far-reaching consequences across the Middle East, with thousands reported dead particularly in Iran and Lebanon and ongoing instability continuing to impact the global economy.
Credit: Vanguard
