Beirut: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday hinted that Israel could take unilateral military action against Iran as diplomatic efforts continued to secure an agreement aimed at ending the conflict between Tehran and Washington. "We heard today the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ahmad Vahidi, declare that Iran intends to continue developing a nuclear weapon," Netanyahu said. "As Israel's prime minister, I am determined to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," he added.

According to Anadolu Agency, Netanyahu described the United States as "Israel's greatest ally," but emphasized his determination to do whatever is necessary to ensure Israel's security. His remarks come in the context of ongoing mediation efforts between the US and Iran, which Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari noted had reached "advanced stages." On Tuesday, Al-Ansari mentioned that the two sides had exchanged draft proposals, signaling progress in diplomatic negotiations.

The backdrop to these developments is a history of military conflict; on February 28, the US and Israel launched a war against Iran, which reportedly resulted in more than 3,000 deaths, according to Iranian authorities. In retaliation, Iran targeted regional countries hosting US assets. Efforts to mediate began in June when Qatar and Pakistan joined forces, leading to the signing of a memorandum of understanding on June 18 and initiating negotiations toward a final agreement.

However, these negotiations have been fraught with challenges. Talks stalled over disagreements related to maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. During a period between July 8 and July 24, tensions escalated as the US conducted attacks on Iran. This led Tehran to respond by targeting what it identified as US military facilities and equipment in several Arab countries, particularly in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait.