The New York Times reported, citing American and regional officials, that Israel had provided the United States with intelligence indicating that Iran is considering using chemical weapons against its adversaries. The information has sparked deep concern among some American officials, while others have met it with profound skepticism.
The newspaper added that discussions held by Israeli officials with American intelligence agencies and other officials over the past two weeks have highlighted the threat of chemical weapons as more urgent than Iran's ambitions to develop a nuclear weapon.
According to the paper, some American officials view the Israeli intelligence as part of a pressure campaign led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, aimed at convincing President Donald Trump's administration to resume extensive military operations against Iran. Others, however, believe the threats should be taken seriously, given recent warnings about Iran's readiness to attack American interests.
Israel has also briefed Gulf states on some of this information, according to the New York Times. Several of them expressed doubts that Iran is planning to use chemical weapons, believing that Israel is trying to push the United States and its partners back into a more intense phase of the war.
American accusations that Iran possesses chemical weapons or is seeking to develop them date back decades. In 2003, Iran acknowledged developing chemical capabilities during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, but said it had dismantled them afterward.
In recent years, the United States has publicly stated in its annual unclassified intelligence assessments that Iran is "likely to seek" to continue its research and development in the field of chemical weapons. Iran, for its part, has repeatedly denied possessing chemical weapons, describing such accusations as part of a psychological war waged by Israel and Netanyahu on previous occasions.
The newspaper noted that after eight months of war, the United States and Iran appear to be in a relative stalemate, exploring possibilities for diplomatic breakthroughs while preparing for a potential resumption of hostilities.
It further pointed out that the ongoing debate over the new intelligence highlights the sensitivity of the current phase and the risks of serious miscalculations that could have severe consequences.
American officials have conveyed that the Trump administration does not intend to use nuclear weapons, but Iranian officials do not appear to share the same level of confidence.
The New York Times also noted that Netanyahu is fighting for his political survival, having failed to secure a clear path toward forming a government following last week's elections. Some analysts believe he may be seeking to exploit an emergency security situation as leverage to pressure opposition leaders into joining him in a coalition government.
