US fears of an "Iranian response"
In a closed-door briefing, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff warned that an Iranian response to any Israeli strike "could result in a significant number of casualties."
According to the American news website Axios, Witkoff was speaking to Senate Republicans on Thursday during a briefing that was not covered by the media.
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| Iran has increased its production of ballistic missiles. |
Witkoff, who is arriving in Oman on Sunday to attend the sixth round of ongoing US-Iran talks to reach an agreement on its nuclear program, added that Israeli military strikes are on the table if the negotiations fail.
Axios obtained its information from a US official and an informed source.
The sources revealed that the US envoy spoke about Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and said that the United States is "concerned that Israeli air defenses could face an attack involving hundreds of missiles."
Iran has pledged to strike US targets in the region in the event of any attack on its nuclear program, which prompted Washington to withdraw diplomats and military families who may be at risk from the Middle East.
In October 2024, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel and attacked it again in April of the same year using cruise missiles and drones.
Although a significant portion of both attacks were thwarted by Israeli air defenses with US assistance, Washington appears concerned that any future Iranian attack could be even larger.
A US official told Axios that since the October attack, Iran has increased its production of ballistic missiles to about 50 per month, explaining that it aims to produce more missiles than Israel possesses in interceptor missiles.
With uncertainty surrounding the progress of nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran, the region is gripped by fears that Israel could launch attacks on Iran, a concern Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed to US President Donald Trump in a phone call on Monday.
On Thursday, Trump asserted that Israeli strikes "could happen," but that he "doesn't appear imminent."
According to press reports, this sixth round of nuclear talks could determine whether diplomacy continues or whether conflict begins.
According to the Wall Street Journal, a senior Israeli official warned that a strike could be launched on Sunday unless Iran agrees to halt the production of fissile material that could be used to make a nuclear bomb.