Time to pull the trigger
CNN: Israel preparing to strike Iran's nuclear facilities
"Israel's position has consistently been that military action is the only option to stop Iran's military nuclear program," noted an American official.
The US has obtained new and updated intelligence indicating that Israel is preparing to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, even as the Trump administration is engaged in negotiations with Iran over a nuclear agreement, CNN reported last night citing several American sources.
According to the officials who spoke with the channel, such an attack could lead to a wider regional conflict in the Middle East, something the US has been trying to avoid since the war in Gaza heightened tensions starting in October 2023.
The US has not yet detected that a final decision has been made in Israel on this issue, and there is disagreement within the Trump administration regarding the likelihood that Israel will actually choose to act. One of the sources quoted in the report said that "the chance of an Israeli attack on a nuclear facility in Iran has increased significantly in recent months, and the likelihood of an agreement between Iran and the US that does not remove all of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile will increase the chances of an attack."
Among the military preparations in Israel identified by American intelligence are movements of aerial munitions and the completion of an aerial exercise.
It was also reported that this may be an attempt by Israel to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear program. According to the CNN report, the U.S. is ramping up its intelligence gathering efforts to be prepared to assist if Israel decides to attack, according to a U.S. official.
Another source told the channel that it is likely the U.S. will not assist Israel at this time in attacking nuclear facilities in Iran unless there is provocation from Iran that would lead to a change in policy.
An Israeli source told CNN that Israel would be ready to take military action itself if the U.S. negotiates a 'bad deal' that Israel could not accept. Another source said to the channel, 'I think it is more likely that Israel will attack to try to cause the agreement to fall apart if they believe it will be a bad agreement. The Israelis have not hesitated to signal this to us, both publicly and in private conversations.'
Regardless, Trump publicly threatened military action against Iran if the administration's efforts fail in negotiations for a new nuclear deal, while also setting a time limit on how long the U.S. will engage in diplomatic efforts.