Former Israeli military intelligence chief warns over Iran’s nuclear programme and future US support

Tamir Hayman, executive director of Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and former head of Israeli Military Intelligence, said Israel would not tolerate what he described as the crossing of an unspecified red line in Iran’s nuclear programme.

Speaking at a national security conference organized by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth in cooperation with the INSS, Hayman said Israel would not disclose the nature or location of that threshold.

“Iran is not satisfied with what it has achieved so far, but continues to develop its nuclear programme,” Hayman said, according to remarks reported from the conference.

Addressing Israel’s relationship with the United States, Hayman warned that American political support for Israel could weaken after the end of President Donald Trump’s term.

READ: Trump says there is ‘good chance’ of deal with Iran

“The network of American support is gradually eroding,” he said.

Hayman argued that while ties between the Israeli and US military establishments remain strong because of years of cooperation, political support within the White House currently “rests on one person.”

He also attributed what he described as a gradual decline in support to political changes within the United States, citing the growing influence of political groups critical of Israel. Hayman further claimed that media campaigns, including some he alleged were backed by Qatar, had contributed to linking future US support for Israel to the Palestinian issue.

Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is for peaceful civilian purposes, while Israel has long claimed that Tehran’s nuclear activities pose a significant security threat. Qatar has previously rejected accusations that it supports media campaigns intended to undermine Israel or its relations with the United States.

READ: Iran says it will not let US determine timing of war and peace