Israel is closely observing Iran and issuing a direct warning to its leadership, which is under international scrutiny due to escalating protests.

“We are in a state of high alert,” the ambassador informed reporters. “Our defensive and offensive capabilities are prepared… Our advice to Iran is not to challenge our abilities.”

Danon added that Israel knows the locations of Iran’s ballistic missile stockpiles, weapons Tehran deployed against Jerusalem in a 12-day conflict in June 2025.

That month, Israel initiated “Operation Rising Lion,” intended to destroy key targets. The United States subsequently intervened with “Operation Midnight Hammer,” which resulted in the destruction of Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

The diplomat described the summer’s events as a “partial” demonstration of Israel’s military power, without providing further details.

Danon stated that the final decision on any future action would rest with the U.S., and Israel would “respect that decision.”

“Our stance is unambiguous; it is a decision for the United States. We are prepared,” Danon said. “We will not dictate to the U.S. whether, what, or when they should act.”

He also suggested that the U.S. is prepared to support Israel, indicating that an Iranian attack would likely provoke a retaliatory strike from “the U.S. or somebody else.”

On Tuesday, Iran issued a warning to President Trump against targeting its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

“Trump is aware that any aggressive move against our leader will result in us not only severing that hand but also setting their world ablaze,” stated Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesman for Iran’s armed forces, as reported.

This statement was a reaction to Trump’s demand for “new leadership in Iran.” In an interview, he described Khamenei as “a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people.”

Since the protests erupted in late December, both the U.S. and Israel have voiced support for the demonstrators. President Donald Trump warned that U.S. action would follow if the Iranian regime responded with violence. To date, the U.S. has not intervened, and the president indicated he was encouraged by the cancellation of executions.

“I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday (over 800 of them), have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran. Thank you!” Trump posted on social media.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced this message, stating that all options remain available. She confirmed at a briefing that Trump warned Iran that continued killings would lead to “grave consequences.”

Israel has publicly endorsed the Iranian people, with Prime Minister Netanyahu stating on Jan. 11 that the nation was “closely monitoring” the situation. He pledged that once Iran is “liberated from the yoke of tyranny,” Israel would be ready to engage as a peace partner.

“Israel is closely monitoring the events unfolding in Iran. The protests for freedom have spread throughout the country. The people of Israel, and the entire world, stand in awe of the immense bravery of Iran’s citizens. Israel supports their struggle for freedom and firmly condemns the mass killings of innocent civilians,” Netanyahu said at his weekly cabinet meeting.

“We all hope that the Persian nation will soon be liberated from the yoke of tyranny, and when that day comes, Israel and Iran will once again be faithful partners in building a future of prosperity and peace for both nations,” he added.

Iran, in turn, has accused the U.S. and Israel of fomenting the protests. On Jan. 16, a representative claimed both nations were responsible for creating “political destabilization, internal unrest and chaos,” and blamed them for “the innocent blood that has been shed in my country.”

Shortly before these remarks, the Iranian mission to the U.N. posted on X that “the satanic plot hatched by the United States and the Zionist regime to fragment Iran and to engineer an internal civil war will be neutralized through the national solidarity of the Government and the people of Iran, the ignominy of which will remain upon them.”

Iranian officials often use the term “Zionist regime” to refer to Israel.

A U.S.-based organization that monitors unrest in Iran reported on Monday that the confirmed death toll had reached 4,029 since the protests started. The agency also reported at least 5,811 severe injuries and 26,015 arrests.

Digital contacted the White House, the State Department, and the Iranian Mission to the U.N. for comment.