The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also warned against any attack that could "derail" the delicate talks on a truce in the Gaza Strip.

Iran faces "cataclysmic" consequences if Israel attacked, a senior US official who spoke on condition of anonymity said Friday. "We would want to discourage the Iranians ... from going down that path because the consequences would be cataclysmic, particularly for Iran," he added, warning against any attack that could "derail" the delicate talks on a truce in the Gaza Strip.

President Joe Biden said Friday that the parties to the Gaza conflict are “closer than ever” to a ceasefire and hostage release deal, after two days of talks in Qatar in which U.S. mediators presented a revised proposal.

‘Best opportunity’

“It was Hamas, an Iranian-linked group, that started this war on October 7, and it would be ironic if Iran did something to derail what we believe is the best opportunity in months to get a very comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release deal,” the U.S. official quoted above said.

Iran has warned Israel that it will carry out a retaliatory attack for the July 31 assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital. Tehran blames the assassination on Israel, which has not claimed responsibility. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Friday that he expected his allies to "join Israel" to "attack Iran" if the Islamic Republic attacked his country, while receiving his French and British counterparts. Asked about these statements by Israel Katz, the senior American official only assured that the United States was preparing "for any eventuality." "We will do everything necessary to defend Israel against attacks from Iran," he added.