US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed regional issues including Iran on Monday, CNN reported, as Israeli defense officials warned that a renewed conflict was possible.
Earlier, a statement from Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli prime minister spoke with Trump but did not mention the two leaders had discussed Iran.
The statement added Trump invited Netanyahu to a meeting at the White House in the near future.
CNN's report comes as Israeli media cited Israeli Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram as saying that the country is developing more new technologies to prepare for the next potential war against Iran.
"Enemies are learning and adapting. We are at a pivotal point before a new paradigm takes place," the Jerusalem Post quoted Baram as saying at the International DefenseTech Summit in Tel Aviv on Monday.
“Iran’s rapid force buildup in air defense and ballistic missile capabilities,” driven by “its extremist ideology” means that “all fronts are still open” and the Israeli military must be ready for another conflict, Baram said according to the Jerusalem Post.
Speaking at the same conference on Thursday, Daniel Gold, head of Israel’s Defense Ministry Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), said the country’s new laser defense system will be rolled out by the end of December.
“The Iron Beam laser system is expected to fundamentally change the rules of engagement on the battlefield," Gold said.
"With development complete and a comprehensive testing program that has validated the system's capabilities, we are prepared to deliver initial operational capability to the IDF,” he added, referring to the Israeli military.
Speaking to Iran International, Farzin Nadimi, senior researcher on defense and security at the US-based Washington Institute think tank, said both Iran and Israel were seeking to shape their adversary's calculations with their public statements.
Iranian military and political leaders have vowed a punishing response to any renewed Israeli attack.
“In this war of long-range strikes, the psychological dimension and the battle of narratives are just as important as the missiles and bombs exchanged between Iran and Israel,” he said.
“They see it as an important part of the deterrence they are trying to create against the other side.”
