Iran threatens preemptive strike if it detects imminent security threat

Author: Published: January 7, 2026

Iran’s Defense Council warns it may launch a preemptive strike if it detects an imminent threat, declaring Iran’s security and territorial integrity a “red line”.

Elad Benari

Published: 

 

Tehran

TehraniStock

Iran’s Defense Council warned on Tuesday that the country may carry out a preemptive strike against its enemies if it detects signs of an imminent threat to its security.

In a statement, the council – established to shape Iran’s defensive strategy following the 12-day war with Israel last June – declared that “Iran’s security, independence and territorial integrity are an uncrossable red line, and any aggression or continuation of hostile behavior will be met with a proportionate, decisive and decisive response.”

“The long-standing enemies of this land… are pursuing a targeted approach by repeating and intensifying threatening language and interventionist statements in clear conflict with the accepted principles of international law, which is aimed at dismembering our beloved Iran and harming the country’s identity,” the statement concluded.

The council emphasized that Tehran “does not consider itself limited to reacting after the fact, and considers objective signs of threat as part of the security equation.”

The statement comes amid speculations that another round of conflict between Iran and Israel could be possible. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday, during a Knesset session, that Israel had conveyed a message to Iran stating that if Israel is attacked, “the consequences will be severe.”

“[US President Donald] Trump and I will not allow Iran to restore its ballistic missile industry and nuclear program,” Netanyahu said during the session.

He added, “We identify with the struggle of the Iranian people. We may be standing at a crucial moment. If we are attacked, the consequences for Iran will be very serious.”

On Sunday, Iranian television reported that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched a military exercise involving missile launches and tests of air‑defense systems.

According to the report, the exercise is being conducted in several cities, including Tehran and Shiraz.

Two weeks ago, Barak Ravid of Axios reported that Israeli officials had warned the Trump administration that an IRGC missile exercise could be preparations for an attack on Israel.

A day earlier, Iran International reported that Western intelligence sources had identified “unusual aerial activity” by the IRGC’s Aerospace Force.

Netanyahu sends message to Iran through Putin: ‘Israel doesn’t want war’ – report

Author: Published: January 6, 2026

The report, which cited diplomatic sources, stated that Netanyahu called Putin to deliver the message to Iran after a recent rise in tensions between Tehran and Jerusalem.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin
Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin
(photo credit: REUTERS)
ByTOBIAS HOLCMAN
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a message to Iran through Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he assured that Israel has no intentions of going to war with the Islamic Republic, KAN News reported on Monday.

The report, which cited diplomatic sources, stated that Netanyahu called Putin to deliver the message for Iran after a recent rise in tensions between Tehran and Jerusalem.

The report also noted that Putin had already sent a similar message to the Ayatollah’s regime back in October, when he also assured that Israel was “not interested in an escalation.”

Netanyahu addresses Knesset at 40-signature debate on ‘extremist government’, Jerusalem, January 6
Netanyahu addresses Knesset at 40-signature debate on ‘extremist government’, Jerusalem, January 6 (credit: Mark Israel Salem)

Netanyahu warns Iran: ‘If attacked, consequences will be severe’

Prime Minister Netanyahu already issued a warning to the Iranian regime about a possible escalation, saying during his speech at the Knesset’s 40-signature debate on “extremist government” on Monday that “If we are attacked by Iran, the consequences will be severe.”

He also vowed Israel would not let Iran renew its ballistic-missile and nuclear-weapons program. “Our position is zero enrichment capability, the removal of all enriched uranium from Iran, and continuous oversight of nuclear facilities,” he said.

In response to the ongoing protests by the Iranian people against the regime, Netanyahu said: “We may be standing at a decisive moment in which the Iranian people will take their fate into their own hands.”

Keshet Neev contributed to this report.

Report: Israel agrees to establish a managing committee for Gaza

Author: Published: January 5, 2026

Senior Palestinian Authority and Egyptian officials are discussing implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement and reopening the Rafah crossing in both directions.

Dalit Halevi

Published: 

 

Rebuilding Gaza, illustration

Rebuilding Gaza, illustrationTPS

Deputy Palestinian Authority chairman Hussein al-Sheikh and head of the General Intelligence, Majed Faraj, arrived in Cairo today (Sunday) and met with senior Egyptian officials, as part of efforts to advance the “second phase” of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

According to reports, the Egyptian side presented Palestinian officials with a list of candidates for a committee of technocrats that is supposed to administer the Strip, at least temporarily, after the end of Hamas rule. Sources involved in the talks said Israel and the United States had already given their approval to the names.

 

However, a senior Palestinian official who spoke to the newspaper Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed stressed, “Any committee that is established and operates without Palestinian national legitimacy will not succeed,” and clarified that this stance was conveyed to Arab parties and the U.S.

Among the issues discussed in the talks were reopening the Rafah crossing in both directions, deploying a Palestinian and a European force in the crossing area, and a return to the 2005 arrangements, under which Palestinian forces operated in civilian clothing alongside a European presence.

Another issue on the table is the deployment of Palestinian Authority security forces inside the Strip.

PA security sources said that hundreds of police and Palestinian security personnel underwent training in Egypt over the past year, in preparation for the possibility of PA forces entering Gaza when the war ends.

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