Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, in his speech at the ceremony held for Israeli soldiers, said that the targets against Iran have not been completed yet. "As for Iran, the mission is not yet completed," said Katz, repeating his accusations about Tehran's nuclear program. Iran, on the other hand, has repeatedly denied the allegations that it has developed nuclear weapons, despite the accusations of the USA and Israel.
VEIL PRESSURE ON THE USA: WHAT ARE ISRAEL'S CALCULATIONS AT THE ceasefire table?
Evaluating Katz's statement, Istanbul Aydın University Faculty Member and Foreign Policy Expert Yeliz Albayrak said that the message in question should not be read only as a threat to Iran, but also carries political targets towards the USA and the Israeli domestic public.
Stating that Israel wants to continue the attacks against Iran, Albayrak noted that Washington has a more cautious attitude due to the possibility of diplomatic negotiations to continue, and Tel Aviv wants military operations to be on the agenda again. Albayrak continued as follows:
"Katz's message 'We are not done with Iran' shows that Israel still keeps the option of attack on the table. At this point, the USA wants to stay in the background and wait, but Israel's plans are not in this direction. Tel Aviv expects the operations to continue and Washington to maintain its military support. This statement shows that the possibility of a new attack against Iran is on the agenda and puts pressure on the USA to support the continuation of the war."
“THERE IS NOT A DISCUSSION ONLY ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM”
Emphasizing that Israel's threat rhetoric regarding Iran's nuclear program is not new, Yeliz Albayrak stated that the Tel Aviv administration has been using similar allegations as justification for its military policies for many years:
"Explanations regarding the nuclear threat have been made for years. The debate here is not only about Iran's nuclear program. Israel is trying to justify its expansionist policies in the region and its security doctrine, which it defines as 'preventive attack', through these claims. Therefore, a solution coming out of diplomatic negotiations or an end to the war is not a desirable situation in terms of Israel's current strategy."
NETANYAHU'S CALCULATION OF POWER IN THE SHADOW OF WAR
Stating that Katz's statement is also important for Israel's domestic politics, Yeliz Albayrak said that keeping the Iranian threat alive could provide political advantage to the Netanyahu government:
"Another dimension of this statement is Israel's domestic politics. We know that war and security policies provide support to the Netanyahu government. They are trying to keep this perception alive in the domestic public by giving the message that the Iranian threat still continues and that the emergency situation has not ended. Thus, both the groups that support the government's security policies are kept together and Netanyahu's political position is strengthened."
Noting that the political balance in Israel also feeds this discourse, Albayrak pointed out that the perception of threat is used to create unity in society. Albayrak said, "A policy is being carried out here through the discourse of unity. It is emphasized that the threat is hot and the society is wanted to be kept together on the axis of security. This discourse is important in terms of continuing the political line that Netanyahu wants and preventing any change in government policies. Therefore, Katz's statement is not only related to the military targets against Iran, but also to the political future of the Netanyahu government."
TRUMP'S MESSAGES TOWARDS IRAN DRAWN ATTENTION
US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran's nuclear facilities were "completely and completely destroyed" after the bombardment carried out by the USA and Israel in June. Trump has also stated many times that they will never allow Iran to have nuclear weapons.
On the other hand, following the news that Iran was preparing for attacks, it is stated that Trump brought up the possibility of a new attack on the country's nuclear facilities. Netanyahu has also made statements in recent weeks that new military operations may be organized against Iran. According to the allegations in the news in the Telegraph, Netanyahu pressured Washington to launch an air strike against Iran before the elections in Israel. However, it was claimed that the US administration learned of the plan and prevented the attack.
Stating that Trump continues to use military threats against Iran as an element of pressure in diplomatic negotiations, Yeliz Albayrak said that she wanted to send the message that Washington did not give up the attack option before a possible agreement.
Yeliz Albayrak said, "Trump wants to keep alive the threat that he can attack Iran again at any time. Because when we sit at the negotiating table, we are faced with a situation where both sides do not step back and maintain their own red lines. In such an environment, keeping the possibility of a military operation on the agenda turns into a pressure tool to make the other side give up some of its demands or to obtain certain concessions in the negotiations. It shows that the USA can reactivate the attack option if it cannot reach an agreement under the conditions it wants."
20 MILLION DOLLAR REWARD FROM THE USA TO THOSE WHO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
The Washington administration recently announced that a reward of up to 20 million dollars will be given to people who will provide information about Iran's nuclear program. Within the scope of the "Rewards for Justice" program within the US State Department, information about Iran's nuclear facilities, equipment and related personnel is sought. It was stated that people who provide information may be offered the opportunity to relocate in addition to the reward.
Yeliz Albayrak, who evaluated this decision of the USA as a part of its quest to gain strategic and intelligence-based superiority over Iran, said that Washington is focusing not only on military options but also on steps to collect information about Iran's nuclear capacity and logistics infrastructure.
Albayrak said, "On the one hand, the USA wants to obtain more intelligence about Iran, and on the other hand, it wants to strengthen its hand in the negotiation process through this information. Gathering information about nuclear facilities, equipment and relevant personnel is also a part of this strategy. Trump is trying to use every strategic advantage it can obtain regarding Iran. The award decision should also be evaluated from this perspective. Washington wants to expand its pressure tools by more closely monitoring what capacities Iran has and what activities are continuing regarding its nuclear program."
USA IS EXPANDING PRESSURE AGAINST IRAN
Assessments that Washington may increase military and economic pressure on Iran remain on the agenda. In his statement before the elections, US President Trump said, "I may have to go after Mount Pickaxe," but said that he was in no rush to take such a step.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) also created a new task force to prevent Iran from transporting advanced weapons and various materials via land routes. It was announced that the structure called "Iron Door Task Force" aims to prevent Iran from transporting advanced weapon systems, dual-use technologies, sanctioned materials and illegal income sources through its land borders and the Caspian Sea.
CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that the task force will strengthen efforts to prevent these activities. Iran is currently facing a naval blockade. According to CENTCOM's estimates, Tehran's crude oil exports worth more than $25 billion were blocked due to the blockade. Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency belittled the statements, calling the new task force a "word game".
Stating that the US's new task force does not limit the pressure on Iran to the naval blockade, Yeliz Albayrak said that it is also aimed to take control of land routes and strategic logistics lines.
Albayrak said, "On the one hand, the USA continues its naval blockade, and on the other hand, it is trying to control Iran's land borders and strategic crossing points through the Iron Gate Task Force. In this way, they want to put pressure not only on oil exports, but also on the logistics lines that Iran can use to develop its military and nuclear capacity. While a new task force is being formed, on the other hand, messages are being given that diplomatic contacts are continuing. The simultaneous execution of these two processes shows that Washington keeps the ground for negotiations open and does not intend to reduce military pressure."
PAY ATTENTION TO THE MESSAGES SENT THROUGH KAZMA DAĞ!
Pointing out that Trump's statements regarding Kazma Mountain are also a part of this policy, Yeliz Albayrak stated that the USA may bring up the option of a limited military intervention instead of a comprehensive operation.
Albayrak said, "Trump's messages via Mount Kazma are based on the claim that some elements of Iran's nuclear capacity have not yet been eliminated. Here, rather than a new and comprehensive war, the possibility of a limited air strike against certain targets may be on the agenda. The USA wants this threat to be effective in the negotiation process by showing that it can organize a new operation if the conditions it wants are not accepted. However, it is not possible to say that the methods Trump has used so far have brought the parties to a common point."
THREE PEOPLE ACCUSED OF WORKING ON BEHALF OF ISRAEL AND THE USA WERE EXECUTED IN IRAN
While military and diplomatic developments in the region continue, it was reported that three people were executed in Iran. According to Iranian state media, Hassan Dioband, Hamid Kazemi and Reza Zanganeh were executed in the city of Karaj on Sunday after being accused of carrying out operations on behalf of Israel and the United States.
It was reported that the three people were accused of setting fire to public facilities, using guns, grenades and molotov cocktails, and damaging an electricity substation.
THREE TANKERS CAUGHT FIRE IN THE STRAIT OF HORmuz
Another address of tension in the region was the Strait of Hormuz, which is of critical importance for global energy trade. In the statement made by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, it was claimed that three oil tankers, which were claimed to be using the illegal passage route in the Bosphorus, exploded and caught fire.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported that a fire broke out on a tanker ship off the Khasab coast of Oman the day before. The Iranian administration later announced that one of the tankers hit a mine.
