Global
Diplomatic sources familiar with mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran revealed that Russia has conveyed warnings to Iran regarding planned US-Israeli military operations targeting the remaining infrastructure of Iran's nuclear program, primarily the heavily fortified underground facility of Jabal al-Fass, amid rising concerns over a possible new round of strikes in the coming days. The information presented by Moscow to Iranian officials indicates that uranium enrichment and storage sites top the list of potential targets discussed in military talks between Washington and Tel Aviv, amid pressure from the Israeli Prime Minister on the US administration to deliver a decisive blow to the nuclear program. The Russian warnings were accompanied by a direct call for Tehran to engage in urgent negotiations with Washington, aiming to reach a temporary understanding to freeze the nuclear dispute by discussing uranium enrichment levels and the fate of Iran's stockpile, potentially opening the way to de-escalate tensions and avoid a new military confrontation. Mediators informed Iranian officials during contacts in Doha that initiating serious negotiations could persuade the US administration to abandon the strike option, especially if an agreement can be reached that can be presented as a political and security achievement. In this context, a diplomatic source familiar with mediation efforts noted that the Israeli Prime Minister is intensifying pressure on Washington to target Iran's nuclear infrastructure, considering current conditions as an opportunity to deliver a strike that Tehran would find difficult to recover from. The Israeli pressure is reportedly based on intelligence assessments indicating accelerated Iranian efforts to develop missile and nuclear capabilities, amid fears these could be used to produce nuclear weapons in the future. The priority for Israel focuses on nuclear facilities and enrichment centers rather than expanding attacks to include energy, electricity, and civilian infrastructure, viewing the nuclear program as the primary strategic target in any new operation. Sources revealed that regional countries informed Iranian officials during recent talks in Qatar that economic and political pressures on the US administration increase its need to end the conflict but from a position that allows it to claim achievement of its objectives, foremost among them neutralizing the Iranian nuclear threat. The outcome of the US midterm elections, which weakened the Republican position, adds new complexities to the White House's calculations and may accelerate the decision-making process, whether through negotiations or military action. These details coincide with statements made by the US President in early November, affirming that the US still needs to address one or two sites in Iran, explicitly referring to the Jabal al-Fass nuclear facility. He stated that the US can deal with the remaining targets within ten minutes, indicating the existence of military plans to strike them. The Jabal al-Fass facility holds special significance due to its mountainous nature and deep underground fortifications, while the exact nature of activities conducted there remains independently unconfirmed. The President's remarks coincided with Israeli media reports about US preparations for a possible resumption of strikes against Iran, alongside increased Israeli military alertness in anticipation of the conflict expanding to other regional fronts, notably Lebanon.
