The IDF is reportedly preparing to resume the war against Iran after bilateral talks between the Islamic Republic and the US broke down over the weekend.
All three major Hebrew channels, Kan, Channel 12 and Channel 13, reported on Sunday that the military is in a state of alert for a resumption of the conflict, which has stalled following the agreement of a two-week ceasefire last Wednesday.
Citing a “senior defence official,” Kan reported that “Israel is interested in renewing the war against Iran”.
It also suggested that Israeli leaders believe the war ended “without sufficient pressure being applied on Iran regarding the nuclear issue and ballistic missiles”.
Likewise, Channel 13 stated that IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir had instructed commanders “to prepare for an immediate resumption of fighting and ordered the initiation of combat readiness procedures”.
There has been no official comment from the IDF on the reports but speaking during a visit to southern Lebanon last week, Zamir said the military was “prepared to return to combat [in Iran] with full force if required at any given moment”.
The reports come after a breakdown in diplomacy between Washington and Tehran after 21 hours of talks between their respective delegations in Islamabad, Pakistan, over the weekend.
Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and long-tenured diplomat and negotiator Ali Bagheri.
But the American delegation returned home on Sunday, with Vance saying they “could not get to a situation where the Iranians were willing to accept our terms,” particularly around commitments against any future development of nuclear weapons.
Iran’s continued stockpiling of enriched uranium and its control of the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping lane which Tehran effectively blockaded throughout the war, were also widely reported to be key sticking points.
In the wake of the disengagement, President Trump ordered a blockade of the strait, writing on his Truth Social platform: “Iran promised to open the Strait of Hormuz, and they knowingly failed to do so.
"This caused anxiety, dislocation, and pain to many people and Countries throughout the World.
"As they promised, they better begin the process of getting this INTERNATIONAL WATERWAY OPEN AND FAST! Every Law in the book is being violated by them.”
The announcement prompted concern among many of the Gulf States, including US allies in Qatar and the UAE, which rely on the Strait to facilitate global oil exports.
US Central Command (Centcom), which is responsible for military operations in the Middle East, later clarified that the US would only block ships looking to enter or leave Iranian ports, while traffic through the waterway would remain unimpeded.
The blockade is due to come into force at 10am EST (3pm BST) this afternoon.
Trump has also repeatedly called on the US’ Nato allies to join its missions to unblock the strait, but Europe has thus far refused to become directly involved in the war.
Earlier this morning, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that the UK would not be involved in the latest US plan, stating: “We’re not supporting the blockade.”
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “What we’ve been doing over the past few weeks is bringing countries together to keep the straits open, not shut.
“And that isn’t a remote issue. All the time the strait is shut ... that means oil and gas is not getting to market, that means prices are going up, that means everyone listening to this is facing higher energy bills. And I don’t want that to happen.”
“We’re not supporting the blockade. And all of the marshalling, diplomatically, politically and capability, we do have minesweeping capability ... that’s all focused, from our point of view, on getting the straits fully open.
“We want to get energy prices down as quickly as possible. I’m very concerned about the impact this war is having on people in the UK.”
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