Israel has shared intelligence with the United States claiming that Iran is considering the use of chemical weapons against its adversaries, The New York Times reported, according to Mint.
Israeli agencies told their American counterparts that Iran is moving quickly to develop the means to deliver chemical agents by missile, or to smuggle them into Israel and other countries for attacks, the report said. Delivery by drone is also considered a possibility.
Divided views
The intelligence has split American officials. Some see the briefings as part of a pressure campaign by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to persuade President Donald Trump's administration to return to major combat operations against Iran. Others believe the warnings deserve serious attention, according to the report.
Israel has also briefed Gulf governments. A regional official told the newspaper that Israeli officials presented their assessments without sharing supporting evidence, and that Gulf governments found the claims unconvincing.
Iran has publicly denied possessing chemical weapons and has previously dismissed such allegations as psychological warfare by Israel.
What the experts say
Even those briefed differ on how fast Iran could use such weapons. Mounting a chemical agent on a ballistic missile may not be very difficult, but making the weapon disperse the agent effectively is a much bigger technical challenge, weapons experts and US officials told the newspaper. Smuggling a chemical bomb across a border would also be hard.
Chemical weapons are banned under international law.
Why it matters
The claims come as the US and Iran remain in a prolonged standoff after eight months of war, with both sides exploring a diplomatic deal while preparing for a possible return to fighting. Israeli officials have described the alleged chemical threat as more urgent than Iran's nuclear ambitions, the report said.
These are intelligence claims, not established facts, and the report carried no public evidence for them.