Israel tells Washington Iran is weighing chemical weapons. Some U.S. officials aren't buying it

Israel has shared intelligence with the United States saying Iran is considering using chemical weapons against its adversaries, The New York Times reported Tuesday, citing U.S. and regional officials. Israeli officials told their American counterparts over the past two weeks that the chemical threat is more urgent than Iran's nuclear program, and that Iran is working quickly on ways to put such weapons on a missile or smuggle them into Israel or another country.

The reaction in Washington is split. Some officials were alarmed and say the warning should be taken seriously given Iran's recent threats against American targets. Others told the Times they see it as part of a pressure campaign by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to get the Trump administration back into major combat against Iran, and a few compared it to the 2002 Iraq WMD claims. Israel also briefed Gulf governments, and several of their officials doubted the intelligence, the Times reports.

Two details cut against the urgency: Israel's Home Front Command is running drills across the country this week but has not made chemical-weapons preparedness a major part of them, and has not sent out public reminders on chemical safety, according to two unit officials quoted by the Times. The IDF declined to comment. Iran denies having chemical weapons. It admitted in 2003 to developing chemical capabilities during the Iran-Iraq war and says it dismantled them; U.S. intelligence assessments say Iran "likely aims" to keep up research.

The report lands as U.S. and Israeli planners have strike plans ready for after the midterms, as the Times reported Oct. 21, and as talks through Qatar remain stuck.