Senior Iranian officials believe a U.S. military strike against Iran is approaching, warning regional diplomats that Tehran is preparing for renewed hostilities as tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to a report published Wednesday evening, Iranian officials have told diplomats in the region that they are operating under the assumption that Washington is preparing to launch an attack.

“Our working assumption is that the United States will attack. There is an atmosphere of war in Tehran,” the officials reportedly said.

The warnings come amid a sharp escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian forces have reportedly intensified attacks against commercial vessels in recent days. Several ships struck during the latest incidents have reportedly sunk, further raising concerns about the security of one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.

Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned Wednesday that the potential for a broader military confrontation is increasing, announcing that the IDF is reinforcing its forces in response to the deteriorating security situation.

Zamir said the military is prepared for a rapid return to combat should hostilities resume.

Israeli assessments reportedly indicate that any new military operation against Iran would likely be coordinated between Israel and the United States rather than carried out independently by either country.

The possibility of Saudi Arabia participating in such an operation has also been raised, although no decision or formal commitment has been reported.

Despite the heightened military preparations, officials who participated in discussions with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu say he is not interested in initiating military action before Israel’s upcoming elections, scheduled to take place in less than two weeks.

However, the growing military readiness on both sides has intensified concerns that a miscalculation could trigger a major confrontation even if neither side initially intends to launch a full-scale war.

Israeli officials reportedly believe Iran has an interest in increasing regional tensions ahead of the elections in both Israel and the United States, which are scheduled just days apart.

The concern is that Tehran could attempt to exploit the politically sensitive period to strengthen its negotiating position or exert additional pressure on Washington and Yerushalayim.

At the same time, Israeli assessments suggest that even if another round of fighting erupts, it may not produce a decisive military outcome.

Instead, officials believe another confrontation could eventually end with both sides returning to negotiations, as has occurred following previous escalations.

For now, the combination of Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, American military preparations, and Israel’s increased readiness has created an increasingly volatile situation, with officials warning that even a limited incident could ignite a much broader conflict.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)