Israel Weighs Military Strike on Iran Amid Nuclear Talks
Israel is considering taking military action against Iran in the coming days, potentially without the support of the United States, according to sources familiar with the matter. This development comes as President Donald Trump is engaged in advanced discussions with Tehran about a diplomatic deal to curtail its nuclear program.
According to NBC News, Israel has become more serious about a unilateral strike on Iran as negotiations between the US and Iran appear closer to a preliminary or framework agreement that includes provisions about uranium enrichment that Israel views as unacceptable.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors has formally found that Iran isn’t complying with its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years. The board, which represents member nations including the US, has renewed a call on Iran to provide answers "without delay" in a long-running investigation into uranium traces found at several locations that Tehran has failed to declare as nuclear sites.
A unilateral strike by Israel would be a dramatic break with the Trump administration, which has argued against such a step. The Trump administration is awaiting a response from Iran about a proposed framework of a nuclear deal, and Trump has publicly said Tehran has become more hardline in its negotiations.
The NBC News report cites sources familiar with the situation, who say that Israel may be in a position to take unilateral action against Tehran. The sources and officials were not aware of any planned US involvement in the possible action, although the US could support with aerial refueling or intelligence sharing rather than kinetic support.
The Trump administration has ordered all embassies within striking distance of Iranian missiles, aircraft, and other assets to send cables with assessments about danger and about measures to mitigate risks to Americans and US infrastructure. US and other officials are on alert awaiting the possibility of Israel striking Iran.
The White House has not briefed senior lawmakers on the issue, according to a US official. One major concern is Iran retaliating against US personnel or assets in the region for any action. As NBC News notes, Israel relies on intelligence or other direct and logistical assistance from the US, but may be in a position to take unilateral action.
The CENTCOM commander, Gen. Erik Kurilla, was due to testify on Capitol Hill on Thursday, but the hearing was postponed late Wednesday without explanation. A source familiar said Kurilla had to focus on this unfolding situation.
Iran is rebuilding its strategic air defenses, and manned strikes will soon be exponentially more dangerous for Israeli pilots. In October, Israel damaged nearly every one of Iran’s strategic air defense systems, but much of the damage was to the radars or other parts that can be rebuilt.
Michael Knights of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said the evacuation of nonessential staff members at the US Embassy in Iraq will send a message to Tehran that Trump will not necessarily hold Israel back from launching a threatened attack on Iran.
"It’s about trying to get Iran to respect the president’s wishes," Knights said. Iran has failed to meet a two-month deadline Trump set to reach an agreement on the country’s nuclear activities, and he is frustrated, he said.
Both Knights and a source with knowledge of the matter said it was unclear whether Israel would undertake a limited military strike now or wait until nuclear negotiations played out further. Trump has expressed growing frustration over Iran’s stance at recent indirect talks, portraying Tehran as inflexible and slow-moving.
"They’re just asking for things that you can’t do. They don’t want to give up what they have to give up," Trump told reporters Monday. "They seek enrichment. We can’t have enrichment."
The situation remains fluid, with many variables at play. As NBC News reports, Israel is weighing its options, and the US is preparing for the potential consequences of a military strike on Iran.
