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While diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Iran largely concentrate on the nuclear issue, Israeli officials are sounding alarms about Tehran’s ballistic missile capabilities, which they consider a critical threshold for Israel. These concerns may significantly influence Israel’s decision on whether to take independent military action.
Prior to his trip to Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his intention to highlight Israel’s priorities during discussions. “I will outline to the president our perspective on the negotiation principles, which are crucial not just for Israel but for anyone seeking peace and security in the Middle East,” Netanyahu stated.
According to Israeli officials, these priorities reach beyond the nuclear agenda, encompassing Iran’s missile arsenal. Recent warnings from Israeli defense officials to their U.S. counterparts emphasize that Iran’s ballistic missile program poses a severe existential threat. The Jerusalem Post has reported that Israel is willing to take unilateral action if necessary.
An image captures Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boarding a plane headed for Washington, D.C., for discussions with President Trump, dated February 10, 2025. (Avi Ohayon/Government Press Office)
Israeli security representatives have recently communicated their intentions to dismantle Iran’s missile capabilities through a series of high-level discussions with U.S. officials. Military strategists have proposed possible operations to weaken the missile program, including targeted strikes on crucial manufacturing and development facilities.
A spokesperson for Israel’s defense minister declined to comment on the issue.
Sima Shine, a former senior Israeli intelligence official and current senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, told Fox News Digital that limiting talks to the nuclear issue risks missing what Israel considers the broader threat.
Israel’s air defense targets Iranian missiles in the sky over Tel Aviv, on June 16, 2025. (Matan Golan/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
“If negotiations deal only with the nuclear file and ignore the missiles, Israel will remain exposed,” Shine said. “Iran treats its ballistic missile program as its main deterrence and will not give it up.” She stressed that Tehran views them as a defensive and deterrent capability dictated by the supreme leader. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country would not negotiate on its ballistic missile program, rejecting a core U.S. demand and further dimming prospects for a breakthrough deal. Shine described that stance as a fundamental red line for Israel.
She also warned that Tehran may be stalling diplomatically while assessing whether Washington will limit the talks to nuclear constraints alone.
“They have room to show flexibility on enrichment,” she said, noting that activity slowed after strikes on facilities, “but missiles are different. That they would not discuss.”
Israeli concerns extend beyond the negotiating table. A former intelligence official familiar with strategic planning said Israel retains the capability to strike independently if necessary.
Missiles launched from Iran are intercepted over Tel Aviv, Israel, June 15, 2025. (Tomer Neuberg/Reuters)
“Israel can act by itself if there is no choice,” the former official said, adding that missile expansion and regional threats would be key triggers.
Shine says the optics of Israeli pressure on Washington could complicate matters.
“If missiles become the central public demand, it may look as if Israel is pushing the U.S. toward military action,” she said. “If that fails, Israel could be blamed.”
Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meet ahead of the U.S.-Iran talks, in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on Feb. 6, 2026. (Oman Foreign Ministry/Anadolu via Getty Images)
She added that Iran’s missile arsenal is not aimed solely at Israel but forms part of a broader deterrence strategy against the United States and regional adversaries.
For Israel, the implication is clear. A nuclear agreement that leaves Iran’s missile infrastructure untouched could be seen in Jerusalem as stabilizing the regime while leaving the most immediate threat in place. That calculation, Israeli analysts say, defines the red line.