According to Israeli media, the Israeli Air Force will conduct a simulation of a widescale strike on Iran in May, during the "Chariots of Fire" drills.

The Israeli occupation is using the delay of a finalized Iranian nuclear deal as a pretext to "justify" any possible attack against Tehran's nuclear facilities.

Sources close to the Iranian delegation in the Vienna Talks said on Friday that the Vienna talks to revive the JCPOA have again picked up pace, however.

Talks between Tehran and world powers have been deadlocked after the US refused Iran's demand to lift the IRGC from the US "terror list".

Read more: Marandi: West needs nuclear deal because of crisis

The aviation drills, which will include a simulated strike on Iranian nuclear sites, will take place over the Mediterranean Sea during the month-long exercise, which begins on May 29. The "Chariots of Fire" exercise, which involves virtually all IOF units, has been focused on preparing to strike along "Israel's" northern borders, especially against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Last year, IOF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi said he had directed the military to begin developing new strike plans against Iran. Kohavi stated in September that the army's preparations for a strike against Tehran's nuclear program had "greatly accelerated".

Still, sources believe that certain components of the IOF's strike plans, which are still in the early phases, might be ready in a matter of weeks, while others would take more than a year to become fully operational.

However, the Israeli side may find it difficult considering the sophisticated Iranian air defense capabilities. "Israel" would also have to withstand a retaliatory strike by Iran and its allies.

On Tuesday, Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz warned that “the price for tackling the Iranian challenge on a global or regional level is higher than it was a year ago and lower than it will be in a year.”

Weeks away, again

Although "Israel" has been claiming this for years, Gantz stated that Iran was only "weeks" away from obtaining sufficient fissile material for a bomb. 

Michael Kurilla, head of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), arrived in "Israel" on Tuesday for his first official visit, and Gantz is scheduled to meet with Lloyd Austin on Thursday in Washington.

Gantz has previously warned that "Israel’s" list of targets for Lebanon is “bigger and more significant than the one for Gaza.”

According to the IOF, troops have been training to respond to unforeseen occurrences in several theaters at the same time throughout the exercise, which is slated to extend until June 3.