Today, Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz threatened to attack Iran militarily, stressing that it is no longer a challenge to Israel only, but has become a regional and global problem, while Iran vowed to those whom it described as enemies a "response that will be harsh and broad."
In his statements - during a meeting with a number of ambassadors accredited in Tel Aviv - Gantz linked his position to a series of recent events in the region, including the attack in the Sea of Oman on the Mercer Street ship, owned by an Israeli company, as well as the rocket shells fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel, and the tension at the northern Israeli front.
He said that Iran only needs about 10 weeks to obtain the materials needed to make a nuclear weapon. He also accused Saeed Ara Jani, head of the "drones" department of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, of being behind the attacks in the Persian Gulf.
All of this represented - according to Gantz - an Iranian trend aimed at challenging Israel in several fields, also referring to what he called Tehran's building of military forces in Lebanon and Gaza, and its support and deployment of militias in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
Shortly after these statements, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, inspected the readiness of the military units in the Strait of Hormuz and the military bases along the southern Iranian coast.
The commander of the Revolutionary Guards said that those he described as enemies who threaten Iran should know that its response will be harsh and broad.
He added that the Zionist entity should realize the seriousness of its threats and statements, and reconsider its calculations, as he put it.
The commander of the Revolutionary Guards confirmed the readiness of the Iranian missile systems, drones, naval and land forces to act immediately against any targeting of Iran's security.
British position
In a position confirming the escalation of international anger against Tehran, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab described Iran's international status as "a pariah", and called on Tehran to make more efforts to build confidence with international partners.
Raab had called on the Security Council to respond to what he described as Iran's lack of respect for international law and its destabilizing practices.
Raab went further, and warned Iran against continuing what he described as destabilizing activities in the region, which would result in Tehran being held accountable.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the United States continues to coordinate with its partners on the next diplomatic steps to confront Iran's threats.
Iranian reply
On the other hand, the Iranian ambassador in London, Mohsen Baharvand, affirmed - in a letter to the International Navigation Organization - that his country is committed to ensuring the security of maritime navigation, and that it sees this in the interest of Tehran and the international community.
The Iranian ambassador indicated that some countries have dangerous movements and biased positions, as he put it, adding that these countries use the language of threat against Tehran, and this contradicts international laws, and would destabilize the security of maritime navigation.
Iran has consistently denied the validity of regional and Western accusations of its desire to produce nuclear weapons, and says that its program is designed for peaceful purposes.