Israeli security cabinet meets amid rising tensions over possible US strike on Iran

Israel’s Channel 12 said cabinet members were expected to receive comprehensive briefings on Iran and multiple fronts following assessments that the US could launch an attack on Iran in the near future.

The report said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a separate meeting with a limited group of advisers and security officials ahead of the cabinet session to discuss how the Lebanese group Hezbollah might respond in the event of a US strike on Iran.

It added that Israeli officials are divided over whether Hezbollah would directly enter into a conflict with Israel should the US attack.

The report noted that there is a prevailing view in Israel that Iran may attempt to buy more time by presenting additional proposals regarding its nuclear program, while the chances of reaching an agreement at this stage remain limited due to numerous points of disagreement between Washington and Tehran.

Following his meeting earlier this month in Washington with US President Donald Trump, Netanyahu reportedly expressed difficulty in understanding Trump’s stance on Iran.

“Is he still with us? I’m worried,” Netanyahu reportedly asked an American official after the meeting, according to Channel 12.

It was previously announced that the third round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US, mediated by Oman, will be held on Feb. 26 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The two sides first met in Oman on Feb. 6 for indirect negotiations and agreed to continue contacts. Talks later resumed in Geneva on Feb. 17.

Key issues in the negotiations have included Iran’s uranium enrichment levels and the status of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.