Eyal Zamir Flew to Washington as Israel Pushes for Answers on U.S. Iran Timing

The IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir held a series of high-level meetings in Washington over the weekend, discussions that were cleared for publication on Sunday against the backdrop of rising tensions surrounding Iran.

Zamir’s visit came as Israel and the United States intensify security coordination as concern grows in Israel over the possibility of a U.S. strike on Iran and a subsequent Iranian response against Israel.

According to Israeli security officials, Zamir met with senior American defense figures, including Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, as part of a broader effort to coordinate military planning, assess operational scenarios, and align defensive preparedness between the two allies. Senior IDF officials accompanied Zamir on the trip, including officers from the General Staff and the incoming commander of the Israeli Air Force.

Israeli security officials emphasized the importance of direct engagement at the highest levels. “There is no substitute for a face-to-face conversation,” officials said, pointing to the sensitivity of decisions that could affect the entire region.

The Washington meetings followed recent consultations in Israel between Zamir and U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper, where the two militaries discussed defensive coordination and readiness for a potential escalation. Israeli officials have stressed the need for close synchronization with Washington, including receiving sufficient advance notice ahead of any American military action, in order to prepare Israel’s air defenses and update the public.

The discussions come as the United States continues to bolster its military posture across the Middle East. American forces have deployed additional air defense systems, naval assets, and aircraft to the region in recent weeks, signaling readiness for both defensive and limited offensive operations. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. military is prepared to carry out limited strikes on Iran if ordered, though a large-scale, decisive attack is not expected in the immediate term.

Iran, meanwhile, has escalated its rhetoric. On Sunday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a renewed warning to Washington, saying, “The Americans should know that if they start a war against us, this time it will be a regional war.” He added, “We are not the initiators of war, but the Iranian people will strike forcefully anyone who attacks them.”

Khamenei dismissed U.S. military deployments as familiar pressure tactics and urged the Iranian public not to be intimidated by threats. The comments were accompanied by symbolic gestures in Tehran, including Iranian lawmakers appearing in Revolutionary Guards uniforms and chanting slogans against the United States and Israel following a European decision related to Iran’s security forces.

Israeli security officials assess that limited military action against Iran would be unlikely to significantly alter Tehran’s strategic direction. Officials favor a broader, more decisive approach, while cautioning that partial or prolonged operations could carry serious risks without delivering meaningful results.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Israel is prepared to respond forcefully to any Iranian attack. “If Iran makes the grave mistake of attacking Israel, we will respond with a force it has never seen,” he said at a recent press conference.

Alongside military preparations, regional diplomatic efforts continue in the background. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Oman have all been involved in attempts to reduce tensions and prevent a wider confrontation, though Israeli officials remain wary of outcomes that could leave Iran strengthened.