finance
IRGC: US Options Limited in Iran Conflict; Israel Signs Arms Deals
Iran's Revolutionary Guards stated that U.S. decision-making has narrowed, forcing a choice between military action or a deal amid ongoing war. Israel approved purchases of F-35 and F-15IA jets from U.S. firms while issuing new evacuation orders in southern Lebanon. Separate incidents included arrests at Al-Aqsa Mosque and rising piracy off Somalia potentially linked to the conflict.
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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps intelligence unit stated that the U.S. faces limited options in the ongoing war, choosing between an impossible military operation or a bad deal with Tehran. The unit noted a narrowed room for U.S. decision-making, citing a deadline for ending the blockade of Iranian ports and shifting tones from China, Russia, and Europe.
This comes as Iran has softened its proposal by potentially dropping a precondition on the U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, though gaps remain on uranium enrichment and shipping controls. Paul Musgrave, an associate professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, said the U.S. and Iran are far apart on enrichment and transferring highly enriched uranium.
The UN nuclear watchdog reports Iran holds about 440kg of uranium enriched to 60 percent.
Israel approved a plan to buy a new squadron of F-35 jets from Lockheed Martin and a squadron of F-15IA jets from Boeing. The deal, worth billions, is part of a $119 billion plan to strengthen military readiness over the next decade. Defence Ministry Director General Amir Baram said the purchases address regional threats and preserve air superiority, noting the U.S.-Israel relationship's importance reinforced by the war with Iran.
The Israeli military reported killing two Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon who posed an imminent threat. The fighters were identified in structures and eliminated in a strike. Israel issued displacement orders for villages beyond occupied areas, despite a truce with Lebanon.
The military warned of attacks on 11 towns and villages, ordering residents to flee. Rory Challands, reporting from Beirut, said three villages received evacuation orders for the first time, some north of the Litani River, amid an expanding area of operations.
Thienminh Dinh, an emergency physician with Doctors Without Borders in Tyre, described treating civilians, including children with severe injuries from bombings. She stated that the ceasefire is in name only, with civilians, children, paramedics, and journalists still targeted.
