JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A source close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday dismissed claims by Likud Knesset member Moshe Saada that Israel is nearing a military strike on Iran, possibly as soon as this weekend.

The comments came after Saada, speaking in a television interview on Channel 14’s “HaUlpan HaPatuach” program, said, “We all know that we are heading toward an attack on Iran, maybe even this weekend — these are estimates.” He quickly clarified that his remarks reflected assessments rather than official information.

Israeli diplomatic correspondent Guy Azriel of i24NEWS reported that a source close to the prime minister responded: “Saada is just a member of Knesset. He’s not part of the security cabinet and doesn’t receive security briefings. A slip of the tongue is when someone actually knows something — I don’t think Moshe Saada knows anything.”

Saada, a Likud lawmaker first elected in 2022, does not serve in the security cabinet and is not known to receive classified security briefings on operational matters. The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and activities by its proxies.

Israeli officials have not publicly confirmed or denied any specific operational plans regarding Iran.