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Israel is reportedly preparing to resume strikes against Iran, pending approval from the United States, according to comments from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Katz made the remarks during a purported video statement, in which he claimed that the IDF “is ready both defensively and offensively, and the targets have been marked,” per Insider Paper.
The defense minister’s alleged video statement was also widely shared on social media Thursday morning.
“We are awaiting a green light from the United States — first and foremost to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty… and additionally to return Iran to the Dark Age and the Stone Age by destroying key energy and electricity facilities and dismantling its national economic infrastructure,” he stated, per the outlet.
This posturing comes amid an open-ended ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, whilst internal chaos in the Middle East region runs amok.
“Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is!” President Trump remarked on Truth Social this week. “They just don’t know! The infighting is between the ‘Hardliners,’ who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the ‘Moderates,’ who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY!”
The Israeli defense minister’s comments also come shortly after Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were seen arriving at the White House at nearly the same time on Thursday morning amid the developing situation.
President Trump said this week that Iran desperately wants the Strait of Hormuz reopened (the U.S. Navy is currently blockading the channel), because it is depriving the regime of $500 million of revenue daily.
“But if we do that, there can never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included!” the president threatened.
As far as what the United States will do next as it awaits a potential peace resolution with Iran, there are two separate trains of thought among commentators and political analysts: one side is advocating for continued military strikes and the complete destruction of the Iranian regime, while the other side is advocating for an exit from the war as soon as possible, even if the regime is not totally destroyed.
“Resume overwhelming military action (especially targeting the IRGC and key dual-use infrastructure), along with continued maximum economic pressure AND arm the Iranian people (Reagan Doctrine),” argued war-supporter and commentator Mark Levin on X. “I believe this will bring the war to its fastest conclusion, one way or another (that is, either militarily or by negotiation) and to our country’s and the world’s benefit.”
Conversely, former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent urged an “off-ramp” and withdrawal from the conflict. “We can withdraw and use sanctions as our blockade,” he said on X. “By removing our troops and ships, we deny Iran military targets they can use as leverage, forcing them to engage us diplomatically—Iran would then be inclined to make quiet concessions because they urgently need sanctions relief. This gives us strong leverage on the nuclear issue.”
