Israeli intelligence has privately warned the United States that Iran may be considering the use of chemical weapons against its adversaries, according to a report from The New York Times, citing U.S. and Middle East officials. The concerns suggest Iran is rapidly advancing its capabilities to deploy chemical agents on missiles, potentially targeting Israel and other U.S. allies in the Middle East.
According to the officials, Israeli representatives have conveyed to the U.S. that the chemical weapons threat from Iran is more urgent than the threat posed by its nuclear program. However, the U.S. security establishment is reportedly divided on how to interpret these warnings. Some officials believe the threat is credible and requires serious attention, while others suspect it might be part of a broader political strategy by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pressure the Trump administration into renewed military action against Iran.
Netanyahu is reportedly seeking to influence President Trump to recommence strikes in Iran, a move that comes as he faces political challenges following recent Israeli elections. The urgency of the reported threat is further questioned by the fact that Israel's Home Front Command is not including chemical weapons preparations in its current civilian safety drills.
Iran has consistently denied possessing chemical weapons, stating that it dismantled its program in 2003. The country has also maintained that its nuclear activities are solely for civilian energy purposes. Historically, Iran has been a victim of chemical warfare, having suffered casualties during the Iran-Iraq War due to nerve gas attacks.
The Israeli intelligence warnings echo previous concerns raised by Netanyahu regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities, which were cited as justification for Operation Epic Fury, involving strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. While President Trump has thus far pursued diplomatic negotiations with Tehran, he has also indicated a readiness to escalate military action if diplomacy fails.