The current chemical weapons stockpile in Iran does not pose a threat to Israel, according to a senior security official in the Israeli government cited by Ynet. The statement directly contradicts reports from Israeli intelligence that had alerted Washington and Gulf states to a threat that Tehran was accelerating plans to use chemical agents via ballistic missiles or drones.
The conflicting accounts have caused friction within the Trump administration, where some White House officials told the New York Times that the chemical warnings are unreliable. Some officials suggested that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the intelligence to pressure the U.S. into renewing military strikes. The disagreement occurs while the U.S. military prepares for potential operations against Iran as early as Nov 4.