The US is not aiming to bring about regime change in Iran, but to weaken the Islamic Regime via airstrikes, former Israel Navy chief V.-Adm. (res.) Eliezer "Chayni" Marom told 104.5FM on Wednesday.
Israel's interest in Iran is more focused, Marom said. "We need to understand that our interestsare to hit the ballistic missiles, which are a strategic threat to us. We saw what they are capable of doing during the 12 days of war in June, so we developed a security policy that says we cannot allow those who threaten to destroy Israel to surprise us."
"We will not allow monsters threatening us to grow," he added.
In Marom's view, there are two possibilities for the next step. Either "low-level talks where the US still believes that reaching an agreement has a chance," or "the US understanding that an agreement has collapsed, and preparing for future steps, which would likely include an attack."
Marom also addressed the possibility that the Trump administration would refrain from launching an attack on Iran. "Even if they decide not to attack, it is likely that there will be no choice, and Israel will have to attack. I believe that [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu received US approval in meetings with [US President Donald] Trump," for such a scenario.
Marom went on to elaborate on Israel's air defenses, which would be needed in the event of an Iranian retaliation.
"We currently have a very significant defense system - Arrow, David's Sling, Iron Dome, and the THAAD system both within Israel and deployed by the US across the Middle East," he said.
"All of this, combined with attacking [Iranian ballistic missile] launchers, which we saw how effective we were in doing when we destroyed half their launchers," in June, he added.
Israel may have no choice but to attack Iran, Marom says
However, tensions cannot last forever without something breaking, Marom believes. "We are approaching the time when Israel will not be able to wait and will have to attack, because every day that passes, the Iranians are producing more missiles and launchers. We will have to act," he said, stating his view that the Trump administration understands this, as seen by Netanyahu visiting Washington twice recently.
Marom also downplayed recent naval exercises by the Iranian military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Persian Gulf.
"We should not be overly impressed by their exercises. They just closed off maritime areas to conduct training - we do that too," he said.
Marom also compared the situation to two "boxers standing in the ring showing their bodies to the crowd," noting that it is part of the negotiation process and represents little more.
The direction of nuclear talks is still unclear, according to Marom. "The only Iranians who made a statement are their foreign minister, saying that they would give an answer within two weeks."
"Trump, contrary to his usual behavior, did not speak. The only one who hinted at something was [Vice President JD] Vance, who said that the Iranians did not meet the US demands and that it was unacceptable," he added.
Marom concluded the interview by discussing the IDF's tension on all fronts. "The military is stretched to the limit, on the ground, in the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and readiness for an airstrike on Iran."
"This cannot be kept stretched for long. Israel's decision point is approaching, and the scenario that could unfold is that Israel will attack [Iran's ballistic] missiles when it becomes clear that these [nuclear talks between US and Iran] have no continuation," Marom said.