Dangerous confrontation

Israel has been making continuous moves to prevent the formation of a new nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group, including the return of the US to the Iran nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Israel has accused Iran of having nuclear weapons ambitions and supporting a number of terrorist organisations in the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett convened a meeting with senior officials in the fields of defence, intelligence and diplomacy to discuss ways to stop progress in the ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and world powers. Defence Minister Benny Gantz has said that Israel would act wherever and whenever necessary to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

The new moves came after Israel accused Iran of attacking a cargo ship formerly owned by an Israeli company in an action considered to be a retaliation for a drone strike on Iran's nuclear facility last month. This cargo ship was attacked while passing through the Indian Ocean, causing a fire on board.

Defence Minister B. Gantz affirmed that Israel is ready to act against Iran and maintain its military superiority in the region. During a recent visit to the US, Israeli security officials also expressed their concerns about Iran to their US ally and received a commitment to guarantee US support for Israel’s security.

The US has recently carried out airstrikes against Iranian-backed rebels in Syria and Iraq. Meanwhile, Iranian facilities in Syria are also regularly “targeted” in Israeli air strikes. The accusations from both the US and Israel are denied by Iran.

Tensions between Israel and Iran have led to dangerous tit-for-tat moves between the two sides in recent times, threatening to increase instability in the region.

The international community has urged relevant parties to exercise restraint, prevent dangerous confrontational moves, and take goodwill actions to bring both Iran and the US back into compliance with the JCPOA, considering this as the only means to maintain peace and stability in the region.