Sources say Washington is weighing a more significant military operation against Iran rather than another limited retaliatory strike. Stocks fell and crude oil jumped on the report. The assessment rests on a run of Iranian actions across several fronts rather than a single event.
Washington is weighing a more significant military operation against Iran rather than another limited retaliatory strike, sources say. Israeli security officials say a broader U.S. military operation is becoming increasingly likely.
A senior Israeli security official told i24 that the U.S. is preparing for "something bigger than anything we've seen so far."
Israeli officials point to attacks across multiple fronts
That assessment is based on a series of developments rather than one event. Among them: Iran's ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces in Jordan, attacks by an Iran-backed Iraqi militia on targets in Saudi Arabia, and Iranian threats toward Azerbaijan and Ukraine.
The list also covers Tehran's refusal to reach an agreement over the Strait of Hormuz and the latest attack in Egypt. Israeli officials believe the cumulative effect of these actions shows Iran is escalating tensions across multiple fronts simultaneously, increasing the likelihood of a broader U.S. response.
Stocks slip as crude oil climbs
Equities fell but came off their lows. The Dow dropped 750 points, or 1.43%. The S&P index fell 50 points, or 0.67%. NASDAQ shed 179 points, or 0.72%.
Crude oil moved the other way. It traded up $5.30 at $84.51, after a high of $85.57.
Netanyahu tells Trump a deal is unlikely
The report follows an Oval Office meeting a day earlier. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met President Donald Trump on July 28 for a 90-minute conversation in which he expressed deep skepticism that Tehran would agree to meaningful constraints on its nuclear program.
Netanyahu instead pushed for ramping up both economic and military pressure, and warned that Israel reserves the right to respond on its own. Both leaders said afterwards that their shared objective is preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Bitcoin, trading at approximately $64,000, has long been positioned by its advocates as an inflation hedge. During periods of heightened geopolitical risk, Bitcoin and other risk assets tend to see increased trading volume as market participants recalibrate their exposure.
Sources: InvestingLive, Crypto Briefing
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