"Soon" Over Tehran: Israel Hints at New F-35 Strikes Amid Arms Milestone and Tense Diplomacy

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered a potent military warning on Monday, suggesting that the "F-35" stealth fighters could strike Iran again "soon." Speaking at a ceremony celebrating the production of the 350th F-35 wing by Israel Aerospace Industries for Lockheed Martin, Katz reminded the world of the aircraft's decisive role in the June 2025 attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.

This rhetoric comes at a delicate moment as the U.S. and Iran engage in talks in Oman. Israel is actively lobbying the Trump administration to maintain a credible military threat, viewing the F-35 fleet—which now stands at 48 jets in the Israeli Air Force—as the ultimate guarantor of its "qualitative military edge." By linking potential future operations to both Israeli and U.S. forces, Katz is signaling that diplomacy will not be allowed to "bury" the military option if Tehran fails to meet specific "red lines."