Israel cannot wait forever for peace as Iran rapidly rebuilds its missile program – editorial

An editorial in The Jerusalem Post highlights Israel's growing concern over Iran's rapid military recovery following a June ceasefire with the US. Despite extensive US and Israeli strikes from February to April 2026, which targeted over 2,600 military sites and involved 30,000 attacks, Israeli defense officials are "shocked by the speed with which Iran is recovering."

• Iran is rebuilding its ballistic missile program much faster than anticipated, potentially restoring its arsenal to June 2026 levels by early or mid-2027 if it maintains a production rate of 100-300 missiles per month.
• The diplomatic clock is running out, with no breakthrough on the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran continues to exert leverage by slowing transit and demanding sanctions relief.
• The editorial argues that prolonged negotiations without enforceable restrictions allow Iran to rebuild its military capabilities, eroding the gains made by previous military actions.
• It concludes that Israel cannot wait indefinitely for a diplomatic solution and may need to act independently if the US-led process fails to genuinely constrain Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.