Iran warned of expanded retaliation across West Asia and Europe on Wednesday as Israel ordered its military to step up readiness for potential strikes, pushing the two adversaries deeper into a volatile standoff.
The security cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, directed the Israel Defense Forces to increase preparations for an attack, according to Israeli media reports.
“The directives issued by the security cabinet to the Israeli military could lead it to carry out activities that could trigger a war,” public broadcaster KAN reported, while opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot urged Netanyahu not to deploy the military without a direct threat while a new government is formed.
Tehran Threatens Bases from West Asia to Europe
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned via social media that every military base involved in any renewed aggression would become a target. “If the US launches another war against Iran, every military base involved in the aggression, from West Asia to Europe, will be a legitimate target for Iran’s lethal strikes. No safe distance. No safe haven. No immunity,” he wrote.
Al Jazeera reported that Tehran is discussing whether to appoint Rezaei as its new chief negotiator. Meanwhile, current lead negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated in an exclusive interview that the Strait of Hormuz will never return to its pre-war status unless sustainable deterrence is achieved.
“What stands in the way of an agreement is our lack of trust in the United States,” Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said.
“In Tehran, there have been voices saying that if this status quo goes on for quite a long period of time, Iran will not wait and might take pre-emptive action,” Al Jazeera's Resul Serdar Atas said.
Strains Within Israel’s Military Leadership
The Times of Israel reported that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has repeatedly opposed actions pushed by Netanyahu against Iran. Zamir previously resisted military directives ahead of the October 27 election over fears of sparking an uncalculated regional conflict, aligning with reports from The New York Times that he blocked attempts to orchestrate new airstrikes.
Concurrently, The Jerusalem Post said that the IDF is preparing for dual escalation scenarios, including surprise attacks against American and Israeli installations in the Middle East. Defense officials assess that while Washington favors diplomacy, Tehran views American overtures through the lens of political shifts following the November 3 US midterm elections.
Oil Prices Rise as Iran Rejects US Uranium Proposal
Oil prices ticked upward by about 1 percent on Wednesday, with Brent futures settling at $92.76, after Iran rejected a United States proposal to transfer its stockpile of 60 percent enriched uranium to a third country.
US President Donald Trump indicated readiness to resume military action if diplomatic efforts via Qatar fail, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintained that current economic pressure campaigns have made large-scale operations unnecessary unless red lines are crossed. Meanwhile, US Central Command forces continue enforcing an ironclad naval blockade to keep commercial shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
