A senior Israeli military source warned that Iran could launch attacks by 17:00 local time (Israel) in response to the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz announced earlier in the day. "We are prepared for the possibility that Iran will attempt to fire tonight," the source said, noting that potential targets could include American bases in the Gulf, Gulf state targets, and Israeli territory. "There is currently no specific intelligence indicating this, but we are monitoring the situation closely."
The IDF has updated its target banks and placed all air force platforms on the highest state of readiness. Ground crews and technical teams are reportedly working around the clock.
Holocaust Day Ceremony Pre-Recorded Over Security Concerns
In an unusual security measure, this year's official Holocaust Remembrance Day torch-lighting ceremony at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem — which typically gathers the entire Israeli leadership in one location, including the President, Prime Minister, Knesset Speaker, Supreme Court President, IDF Chief of Staff, Mossad and Shin Bet directors, and senior ministers — was secretly pre-recorded and will be broadcast on television Monday evening rather than held live. The decision was driven by concerns that Iran, motivated by revenge for the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the opening strike of "Operation Lion's Roar," might attempt to decimate Israel's entire political and security leadership in a single strike.
Trump Considers Renewed Strikes After Talks Collapse
Earlier Monday, President Donald Trump announced via a formal post that the United States would blockade all vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports beginning at 10:00 Eastern Time (17:00 Israel time). The move followed the breakdown of US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad, brokered by Vice President JD Vance, after Tehran refused to abandon its nuclear programme.
According to Maariv, citing sources familiar with internal deliberations and US media reports, the White House is now examining several additional options: resuming targeted military strikes inside Iran, large-scale bombardment (considered less likely), or maintaining a more limited and temporary naval blockade while pressuring allies to assume longer-term escort responsibilities in the Strait.
Trump, speaking by phone to Fox News from his Doral, Florida resort on Sunday, did not rule out further action. "I would hate to do it, but those are their waters, their desalination plants, their electricity generation facilities — and they are very easy to hit," he said.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales confirmed that all options remain on the table, stating that the President "wisely keeps all additional options open."
American officials outlined their conditions for any resumption of talks: full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz; complete cessation and dismantlement of uranium enrichment facilities; transfer of enriched uranium stockpiles; a broad regional security framework; and an end to funding for proxy groups including Hezbollah and the Houthis.
A senior Iranian delegation figure, Reza Amiri Moghadam, struck a softer tone, describing the Islamabad talks as "the beginning of a process" that could yield a stable framework if mutual trust develops.
Strategic Dilemma for Washington
US officials privately acknowledge the risks of each option. Renewed large-scale military action risks depleting munitions stockpiles and generating domestic political backlash, while retreating from pressure — with Iran still holding nuclear ambitions and leverage over the Strait — could be read as a strategic victory for Tehran.
Approximately half of Iran's revenues derive from oil and gas exports, and a sustained blockade could severely damage the Iranian economy. However, the proximity of US naval assets to Iranian shores significantly raises the risk of short-notice missile and drone attacks.
Economic adviser Steve Moore urged decisive action. "We must secure the Strait at any cost and immediately," he said. "Otherwise the global economy could slide into recession." Trump acknowledged there may be "temporary pain" but characterised it as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Former National Security Council senior official Fred Fleitz offered a cautiously optimistic note, suggesting that the size of the Iranian delegation in Islamabad indicated genuine willingness to negotiate. "It's too early to know how this ends," he said, "but it looks promising."