Israel, Iran ramp up war rhetoric, as prospect of open conflict looms

Israel and Iran ramped up their rhetoric against one another, raising the prospect of a return to open conflict in the Middle East.

The US-Israel war with Iran has been dormant for months, beyond sporadic flareups, with Washington and Tehran concentrating on controlling shipping traffic.

Israel’s prime minister, who faces a tight battle for reelection, argued this week in favor of overthrowing Iran’s regime, while the US ambassador to the UN told the Financial Times that Washington was ready for a protracted conflict with Tehran.

Iran, meanwhile, said it had struck multiple tankers and threatened US bases across the Middle East: “Everyone must understand,” a senior Iranian general told Drop Site News, “that action against Iran carries a cost.”