Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has informed his American counterpart Lloyd Austin that Iran appears to be preparing for a large-scale attack on Israel, according to a source familiar with their telephone conversation, Oman’s Al Roya newspaper reported on August 12.

The Israeli Defence Ministry confirmed on August 12 that the call took place the previous night, during which Gallant and Austin discussed operational and strategic coordination, as well as the Israeli military's readiness to confront Iranian threats.

Earlier, Austin ordered the deployment of a submarine equipped with guided missiles to the Middle East, as the US continues to step up its military forces in the region, including nuclear submarines. The US military had already announced plans to deploy additional fighter aircraft and warships to the region to bolster Israeli defences.

Regional news agencies reported that the deputy commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) stated on August 10 that Iran is preparing to execute an order from Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to "severely punish Israel" for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political bureau chief of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), in Tehran on 31 July.

Since Haniyeh’s killing, several reports from regional papers including the Kuwaiti government press have said Iran is postponing a strike on Israel, under pressure from the US.

The ramping up of tensions comes as the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on August 12 calling for an immediate end to hostilities in Gaza and pledging efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.

Earlier on August 12, an Iranian MP said that the Islamic Republic may only refrain from a retaliatory strike against Israel if peace is achieved in Gaza.

Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of the parliament's National Security Commission, made the remarks in an interview with Dedeban Iran on August 11. Ardestani stated that an agreement between the two sides seems unattainable, and therefore, Iran will not abandon its plans for revenge.

He said the operation would be like that of April, when Iran fired around 300 missiles and drones against Israeli territories in response to the bombing of its embassy in Damascus, Syria. However, this time, the number of projectiles may increase to around 600, according to the lawmaker.

Ardestani said the operation will be unannounced and may last three or four days, but the "Islamic Republic will definitely accept the consequences of such an attack and will prepare for possible future events".

Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned on August 11 that any unprecedented attack against Israel would be met with an equally forceful response, amid rising tensions with Iran and Hezbollah.

"Anyone who intends to harm Israel in ways we've never seen before should expect the same in return," Gallant said during a visit to an army base, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Gallant said Israel's military had the capabilities and readiness to respond, while expressing hope that escalation could be avoided.