The recently approved budget aims at this, the military official said, referring to the additional monetary package of some $620 million given to the IDF.

Hours earlier, Defense Minister Benny Gantz issued a similar threat by warning foreign diplomats that Tel Aviv could take military action against Tehran.

Israel has the means to take action and will not hesitate to do so. I do not rule out the possibility of being forced to take action in the future, he said.

Gantz and Kohavi’s public comments coincide with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s visit to the United States.

In recent weeks the Bennett administration increased its threats against Iran following an attack on an oil tanker leased by an Israeli firm off the coast of Oman.

Although Iran claimed several times that it bore no responsibility for the raid, both Bennett and other cabinet figures held it responsible, without presenting evidence.

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