Senior Israeli Official: Israel Expects Large-Scale U.S. Attack on Iran Within Two Weeks

Anticipating a Major Escalation

Following a weekend characterized by a rare lull in U.S. kinetic activity, senior officials in Jerusalem are signaling that the current pause is likely temporary. Speaking to Channel 13, a senior Israeli official emphasized that "despite the president's delay tonight, Israel expects Trump to order the start of a large-scale attack on Iran within the next two weeks." This expectation persists even as President Trump publicly characterized diplomacy as the "smarter strategy" during remarks at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

Earlier reports indicated that Israel had been on high alert for a potentially massive U.S. strike overnight Friday. According to Kan News, Israeli security forces were prepared for the possibility that such an operation could trigger direct Iranian missile retaliation against Israel, necessitating immediate Israeli counter-strikes. However, the planned operation was postponed at the last moment to allow for a diplomatic push led by Omani mediators currently in Tehran.

The Diplomatic Window

The primary focus of the Omani mission is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime artery that has been a focal point of the conflict since the collapse of the "Islamabad Agreement" earlier this month. While President Trump noted that the Iranians "would like to make a deal," he remained cautious, stating he does not believe the time is yet right for a formal agreement.

Analysts suggest that the two-week window cited by Israeli officials may represent a final deadline for diplomatic progress before the U.S. transitions from its recent campaign of infrastructure strikes to a more comprehensive military operation. For the first time in nearly two weeks, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported no strikes over the weekend, a development that regional sources link directly to the ongoing negotiations in the Iranian capital.