On April 25, 2025, Israeli expert and editor-in-chief of "Best Radio" Zvi Zilber said in an interview with the Azerbaijani publication Haqqin.az that Israel and the United States are one step away from striking key Iranian targets, including its nuclear and oil infrastructure. The statement came amid renewed fighting in the Gaza Strip after Hamas rejected the proposed truce, as well as a significant weakening of Iranian proxies such as Hezbollah and the Houthis in Yemen. The expert stressed that the changed geopolitical situation makes a military confrontation with Iran more likely than ever.

According to Zilber, the Trump administration, despite publicly stating its desire for peace, is pursuing a strategy of “peace through strength.” This policy is already manifesting itself in the intensification of attacks on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis. According to Reuters, the US and British air forces have stepped up operations against the Houthis since early 2025, striking their military facilities in the port of Hodeida to prevent attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. These actions have not only weakened the Houthis, but also encouraged the Yemeni government to build an army to retake the port, which could cut off Iranian proxies from their supply lines.

Zilber noted that the strikes on the Houthis are a “transparent signal” to Tehran, demonstrating the US’s readiness for decisive action. Moreover, he pointed to Iran’s vulnerability after recent Israeli attacks, which, according to The Wall Street Journal, have virtually destroyed Iran’s air defense system. In October 2024, Israel launched a series of strikes on Iranian military targets in response to a missile attack, which was the IDF’s largest operation outside the region. Sources in Tel Aviv confirm that the Israeli Air Force is capable of striking targets up to 1800 km away with mid-air refueling, making Iran’s nuclear sites such as Natanz and Fordow achievable targets.

The key factor that changed the balance of power was the weakening of Hezbollah, which Zilber called Iran’s former “umbrella.” The Lebanese group, which previously had an arsenal of 120-150 missiles, posed the main threat to Israel. However, the operation with the explosion of pagers in September 2024, the liquidation of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and the subsequent collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria deprived Iran of its main proxy. As Al Jazeera notes, Hezbollah now exists “purely nominally,” and its missile potential is significantly reduced, which frees Israel’s hands for direct action against Iran.

Against this backdrop, Trump, back in the White House, is taking a hard line. According to posts on the X platform, the US administration is no longer demanding a complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, but is insisting on its limitations, reminiscent of the 2015 agreement that Trump withdrew from in 2018. However, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address on April 20, Israel is prepared to increase pressure on adversaries, including Hamas and Iran, if compromises are not reached.

Iran, for its part, is in a difficult position. According to Bloomberg, Tehran is losing influence in the region after Assad fell and Hezbollah weakened. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has declared his readiness to negotiate with the United States, which confirms progress in discussing the nuclear deal. However, Israeli experts, including Zilber, believe that Tehran may be forced to make concessions to avoid attacks on its nuclear facilities and oil infrastructure, which accounts for about 40% of the country's export revenues.