A Israeli minister revealed that an alliance between Arab and Western countries as well as Israel may be formed against Iran “if Tehran does not bow to the demands related to its nuclear programme”.

“Iran’s announcement that it intends to accelerate uranium enrichment shows that the decision-makers there are in a state of panic,” Israel Minister of Intelligence, Yisrael Katz, told Israel Radio yesterday. “The West’s response to Tehran’s threats must be clear,” he added.

The Israeli minister did not specify which countries may join the alliance.

“Israel will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons,” Katz said, adding that the sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump on Tehran “are beginning to bear fruit”.

“The Iranians have to choose between accepting the American position or collapsing under the weight of economic pressure,” he said.

Major Western countries have in recent weeks announced their opposition to the US position on the Iranian nuclear agreement, which was strongly supported by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Saudi media has expressed Riyadh’s readiness to stand by Israel if it decided to play a new role as a regional power to reduce Iranian influence.

READ: Iran’s reassuring messages to Israel