Air Force said to hold drill simulating another Iranian missile attack
Days after US-Iran nuclear talks, Trump reports ‘good meetings’; Netanyahu said set to speak with him by phone
The Israeli Air Force conducted drills on Monday simulating another Iranian missile attack on Israeli airbases, in light of rising tensions over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, the Kan public broadcaster reported
IAF bases were targeted in previous Iranian strikes in April and October 2024.
The report of the exercise came as the US and Iran continue to hold talks on the latter’s nuclear program, with the drills said to be aimed at boosting readiness in case the talks collapse.
Israeli officials were reportedly caught off guard by a New York Times report last week revealing a halted Israeli-American plan to strike Iran, allegedly blocked by US President Donald Trump.
In Jerusalem, the leak has been interpreted as a US pressure tactic to push Tehran toward a nuclear deal.
A second round of talks were held at the Omani embassy in Rome on Saturday, led by US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with Omani mediation.
Oman confirmed after the talks that both sides agreed to move forward toward a “fair, lasting, and binding agreement,” ensuring Iran remains free of nuclear weapons while retaining peaceful nuclear energy capabilities.
Referencing the talks, Trump told reporters on Monday, “We had very good meetings actually, on Iran.”
Asked what will happen next, he responded, “The next step is we need a little time.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to speak with Trump by phone on Monday, the Walla news site reported.
The two leaders would discuss the currently stuck Gaza hostage talks as well as the nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran, according to the report.
It would be the first call between the two men since the premier visited the White House two weeks ago.
Also Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law ratifying a strategic partnership treaty with Iran, Russian state news agency RIA reported. Putin inked the 20-year strategic partnership pact with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, in January.
In Israel, newly appointed US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee — upon delivering his credentials to President Isaac Herzog — stressed that Iran wants to destroy both Israel and the US.
“It has always been their desire that Israel would be the opening act and then it would be America’s turn to face destruction,” he said. “Or to put in another simple way, Israel is the appetizer and the United States is the entrée.”
Agreeing with Huckabee, Herzog emphasized that Tehran “continues to pursue its radical vision of regional dominance and destabilization — on its own and via its proxies — whilst pursuing nuclear arms and openly calling for the destruction of Israel.”
Agencies and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.