Israeli Officials Reportedly Warned U.S. About Iran Considering Chemical Weapons. Some Officials are Skeptical.

Israeli officials warned U.S. counterparts that their intelligence shows Iran is considering using chemical weapons if full-fledged hostilities resume, but some Washington officials are skeptical of the intelligence, according to a new report.

Some of those who didn't react with alarm view the warning as part of a pressure campaign by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to return to war, The New York Times noted. Others, in contrast, say the intelligence should be taken seriously as Iran has repeatedly threatened to expand attacks against U.S. interests should the war resume. President Donald Trump said he has not made a decision yet.

The outlet went on to note that Israel has also shared some of the information with Gulf countries. Some of them also reacted with skepticism. Iran has publicly denied having chemical weapons.

U.S.-Iran negotiations appeared to hit a snag on Tuesday after Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said that Washington's latest response to the proposal to cease hostilities was "not convincing."

"They must fully and explicitly address Iran's seven conditions and act upon them; only in this case will the Strait of Hormuz be reopened," Rezaei said in a social media publication.

The remarks come shortly after an Iranian official also said a deal with the U.S. is still elusive. Speaking at a news briefing, the official, who remained anonymous, said "mediators are working hard to narrow gaps between Tehran and Washington." However, he noted that "Tehran's conditions must be met if the U.S. wants Hormuz reopened."

The official went on to claim that nuclear talks will only start after Iran's conditions are met and it won't accept Washington's current demands, which were labeled as "excessive."

The remarks stand in contrast with those of JD Vance, who told CNN "the president and I both feel really good about the prospect of potentially coming to a negotiated settlement."

President Donald Trump, on his end, noted on Monday that prices were dropping on hopes of a deal. "Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible. It could happen!" he added.

The president also told Axios earlier on Monday that he's in "no rush" to decide whether to resume full-fledged attacks against Iran. "One way or the other, we will do something, but there is no rush. We crippled them financially. They have no money, no gasoline and their people are getting very tired of it," Trump told the outlet.