In an intensifying war of words, Iran and Israel accused one another of planning a new attack, with both countries signaling readiness for a renewed confrontation.
Tensions have been on the rise between Tehran and Tel Aviv following their 12-day war in June 2025, which ended with the US striking three of Iran’s most fortified nuclear facilities.
Alarm over Missile Drill
Israeli officials have raised concerns over an Iranian missile drill, which Tehran could use as a cover for a strike on Israel, Axios reported. Officials warned the US administration that an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) missile exercise could be preparations for an attack on Israel.
On Saturday, Israel’s military chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, raised the issue with the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Brad Cooper, in a phone call, warning that this missile exercise could be a cover for a surprise attack against Israel. He also urged close US-Israeli coordination on defense preparations.
In response, Cooper visited Israel on Sunday and met with Zamir and senior Israeli defense officials to discuss the issue, sources said.
Fear of War
According to Israeli sources, the Israeli military has become highly cautious after the Hamas surprise attack on October 7, 2023. “The chances for an Iranian attack are less than 50%, but nobody is willing to take the risk and just say it is only an exercise,” an Israeli source told Axios.
Six weeks ago, Israeli intelligence identified Iranian missile movements, raising similar concerns, but nothing happened. Meanwhile, an American source said that US intelligence does not indicate any imminent threats.
Sources said that miscalculation poses the biggest risk as Iran and Israel could launch preemptive strikes, thinking the other side is planning to attack.
Restoring Missile Capabilities
Israel has raised alarm over Iran’s efforts to rebuild its ballistic missile capabilities. Israeli intelligence indicated Iranian movements to restore their missile capability, which the war destroyed nearly half of it, Israeli sources told Axios. The pace of rebuilding could create urgency to take military action later in 2026.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump on December 29 in Florida, plans to raise the issue during their meeting and discuss the possibility of a new strike against Iran in 2026.
Warning to Iran
In what appeared to be a direct warning to Tehran, Zamir said on Sunday that the Israeli military will strike enemies “wherever required, on near and distant fronts alike,” reported the Times of Israel.
“At the center of the longest and most complex war in Israel’s history stands the campaign against Iran,” Zamir noted, adding that “Iran is the one that financed and armed the ring of strangulation around Israel and stood behind the plans for its destruction.”
On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran to eliminate its nuclear program and prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon. As a result, both countries exchanged intensified aerial and missile attacks for 12 days.
Then on June 22, the US intervened in the conflict by striking three nuclear facilities in Iran, namely Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, using bunker-buster bombs. Iran responded by targeting US’ Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar with a barrage of ballistic missiles.
On June 24, Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, ending their 12-day war.
Iran Prepared for War
Iran, for its part, said it is ready for any potential Israeli attack, insisting on Tehran’s right to enrichment for peaceful purposes. During an interview with RT, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, did not rule out the possibility of a new attack on Iran, saying that Iranians “are fully prepared for it; even more prepared than in the past.”
“We are fully prepared, and in fact, we have reconstructed everything that was damaged in the previous aggression. If they want to repeat the same failed experience, they will not achieve a better result,” Araghchi added.
As for Iran’s nuclear capabilities, Araghchi acknowledged that the US and Israeli strikes have caused serious damage to the Iranian nuclear facilities. However, he emphasized that Iranian technology remains “intact” and that Tehran has “a completely legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology, including enrichment, and we want to use this right.”
Moreover, the Iranian Foreign Minister said that Tehran is ready for a “fair and balanced agreement” with the US, but stressed that this agreement should be achieved through negotiations as Iran will not accept dictation.
