Israeli military preparing to strike Iran if talks with US fail: report

Israel is preparing militarily for the possibility of striking Iran if ongoing nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington break down, according to Israeli newspaper Maariv.

As part of this preparation, the Israeli military has begun stockpiling large quantities of advanced American-made weaponry, delivered through an ongoing US transfer of arms to Israel.

In recent weeks, Israel's Air Force has received bunker-buster bombs, as well as heavy and medium-weight munitions ranging from one to 1.5 tons, Maariv reported.

These weapons have arrived by sea and air, with dozens of US cargo planes, including Hercules aircraft, landing at Nevatim Air Base in the Negev and at Ben Gurion Airport.

According to Maariv, the shipments include JDAM kits, which turn unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions. Most of the recent weapons deliveries reportedly came from US military stockpiles in Europe and other regions.

A senior figure in Israel's weapons industry told the Israeli daily that the defence ministry had ordered the weapons to replenish the Air Force's emergency stockpiles.

The shipments also included additional types of bombs, missiles, defensive flare systems to protect aircraft from heat-seeking missiles, and an additional THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) battery. That system was reportedly used just last week to intercept a ballistic missile fired from Yemen.

While the Israeli military has not commented publicly on the transfers, the report indicates that the build-up is not only geared toward the ongoing war in Gaza but is primarily intended to prepare for a scenario in which diplomacy with Iran fails and military confrontation becomes likely.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff for making "contradictory" and "not constructive" statements about the nuclear talks with Tehran.

Araghchi told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday that "contradictory" statements from the US "do not help" the negotiation process, adding that Tehran "needs to hear the real position" of Washington at their next meeting, according to IRNA news agency.

"If they come with a constructive position, I hope we can start negotiations on the framework of a possible deal. If they do not and continue to present contradictory positions, the work will become difficult," he said.

"Negotiations can only move forward on the basis of mutual respect," he added, warning that continued US pressure during talks would "not produce any gains".

He added that Iran was open to building trust over international concerns but will not compromise on what it sees as its sovereign right to nuclear enrichment.

On Saturday, Tehran and Washington held their first round of "indirect" talks since Donald Trump's return to the White House in January. The delegations were led by Araghchi and Witkoff.

The meeting was held in Muscat and was mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi. The next round is set to be held in Muscat on 19 April.