Israel's security establishment has prepared for the possibility of a major US strike on Iran and raised its readiness amid expectations of possible Iranian retaliation, Israeli media reported.
The reports came a day after President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran "very hard," saying Tehran would soon reach a point where it "cannot take it anymore."
The Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported that Israel increased its defensive alert amid assessments that Trump could order attacks on Iranian infrastructure and energy facilities.
The newspaper noted Israeli assessments that any major US strike on Iran could prompt retaliatory attacks against Israel.
Channel 12 reported that Israel's security establishment was preparing for either a US attack on Iran or Israeli participation in such an attack with Trump's approval.
Quoting an unidentified Israeli official, the channel said tensions with Iran had reached their highest level and that the situation was "on the verge of an explosion."
The official claimed Trump was "closer than ever" to ordering a major strike on Iran, adding that the US president now viewed negotiations with Tehran as "a waste of time."
Channel 13 similarly reported that Trump was close to ordering a renewed large-scale attack, describing the current period as "critical hours."
Infrastructure threats and stalled negotiations
Trump said on Friday the US would strike Iran "very hard."
In mid-July, he stated: "If they don't come to the negotiating table, we will shut down all power stations and bridges."
Iran has warned that any attack on its infrastructure would be met with strikes against infrastructure across the region.
Washington and Tehran signed a war-ending memorandum on June 18 and later began negotiations, but talks stalled over disagreements on security arrangements and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US and Israel launched attack against Iran on February 28, with Tehran reporting over 3,000 deaths while responding with missile and drone strikes.
