The statements made in recent days regarding "military readiness to attack Iran" are intended for several ears and several purposes. Usually the reporting of the statements will be accompanied by a photograph of Air Force fighter jets but there is not necessarily a connection between the words and the pictures. 

Today's reports of Israel acquiring weapons as part of the same "readiness" also mentioned Iron Dome interceptors, these are certainly not related to the attack on Iran. Therefore, when a report is issued on "military readiness for attack", it refers mainly to readiness for results and response and not to the attack itself.

First, the Iranians certainly hear and know that Israel can do them real harm. Not just to the core of nuclear activity but to other sectors also. They have tasted the capability only recently in shutting down the fuel sector and they are experiencing this capability of intelligence and fire in Syria every month. They are very careful in everything related to harm and reaction in Israel and analyze every word that comes out of the mouths of senior Israeli officials on the subject.

The Americans and Europeans in the race for the Vienna talks also understand the messages coming out of Israel and know that a bad agreement will not solve any problem and will leave Israel off the field, not committed to the agreement and sabotaging and thwarting Iranian moves, even by force, despite the agreement. 

The Iranian connection is worth billions to Europe, it is worth a drop in oil prices and many investments. Not that there is much Israeli pressure or belligerent declarations, but they are committed, if only to slightly improve the conditions or to differentiate Israel from the agreement and preserve the independence of action with Iran.

The declarations, of course, serve narrow, internal Israeli political interests, but that is a low priority. Prior to this, there was a security interest in preserving a discourse on an Air Force-based attack on Iran. This focuses the discourse, it serves the first purposes of pressure in front of the players, it is better photographed, and it requires the Iranians to prepare and defend in this dimension. 

In practice, as long as it continues to hit the nuclear project, we will not see crowded planes crossing the skies of Saudi Arabia or Iraq, but more cyber-keyboard keystrokes or the red button of the explosive device that was inserted ahead of time in the sensitive place, or another key figure in the project.

Anyone expecting the threat of an attack on Iran that is combined with impressive images of planes, falls into the unconscious mind trap. Israel has an interest in maintaining ambiguity in this area as well.

Image: IDF Spokesperson