Israel ready to resume strikes on Iran as regime aims to rebuild nuclear program - report

"We will move to strike nuclear facilities and any site belonging to them again if Tehran crosses any of the red lines, whether with or without the participation of the US," an Israeli official said.

Israeli officials believe that it's only a matter of time until the resumption of strikes against Iran, according to a report by Saudi state-owned news outlet Al Hadath on Thursday.

The official told the outlet that the Israeli intelligence has detected an attempt by Iran to revive and activate its nuclear program in anticipation of a strike, following reports in Israel about the regime transferring its remaining nuclear project to Jabal al-Fas, near the Natanz nuclear facility.

The report also cited the official saying that Israel is "defensively and offensively prepared for the possibility of renewed war on Iran and on other fronts as well, at any time."

"We will move to strike nuclear facilities and any site belonging to them again if Tehran crosses any of the red lines, whether with or without the participation of the US," the official added.

The official also warned that the current economic sanctions taken against Iranian-linked entities are generating pressure in Tehran, causing internal division and domestic pressure. "These factors could push it [the Iranian regime] toward military responses in the region, including against Israel."

He then insisted that the only way to have a non-nuclear Iran is through a regime change in the country.

Elections don't constitute a decisive variable against Iran

The official also revealed that the elections in Israel, which will be held on October 27, aren't a factor that could influence the decision-making about striking Iran.

He also said that the current sanctions by the Trump administration are having better effects than expected, with current estimates suggesting that a regime collapse could happen sooner than anticipated.

Finally, the official warned Al Hadath that Israel doesn't see much value in the current negotiations between Americans and Iranians, despite the continuation of contacts and mediations, due to Tehran’s procrastination and its bets on political developments in the United States and Israel that could stop an attack from happening.

Iran, US meet on sidelines of UNGA

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner communicated through mediators on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, the first such contacts since an interim ceasefire agreement collapsed in July.

"Steve and Jared had a very productive meeting today with mediators of Iran, merely mediators. Let's see what happens with that," US President Donald Trump said. "They've been mediated for a while, but I think there's a lot of momentum for them to make a deal. It's what we're hearing from everybody."

The Al Hadath report mentioned that no agreement was reached during this meeting, as disagreements continued over several issues, most notably the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to the lack of trust between them.