Israel may be getting ready to launch a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to reports from American intelligence. This comes even as the US continues to negotiate a new nuclear agreement with Iran.
CNN reports that the US has picked up signs of possible Israeli military activity, including moving air munitions and holding exercises that could point to an imminent attack. Some believe these moves might be a warning to Iran rather than a confirmed plan for action.
Tensions are reportedly growing between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu had been preparing for a strike earlier this year, but Trump stopped the plan and instead opened diplomatic talks with Iran in March.
Israel has long opposed any agreement that leaves parts of Iran’s nuclear program intact. It was a strong critic of the 2015 nuclear deal made under President Obama, which lifted sanctions in exchange for limits on Iran’s uranium enrichment. Trump withdrew from that deal in 2018 and warned Iran of serious consequences if it didn’t agree to stricter terms.
The current disagreement focuses on uranium enrichment. The US wants Iran to stop enriching uranium altogether, while Iran insists it needs to continue enrichment for fuel purposes. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, recently expressed doubt that any new deal could be reached.
Some Israeli officials worry that Trump might agree to a watered-down deal that doesn’t fully dismantle Iran’s nuclear program. This could push Israel to take military action.
A former US intelligence official, Jonathan Panikoff, said Israel’s final decision will likely depend on how US-Iran negotiations unfold.
While Israel has launched airstrikes in the past, attacking Iran’s deeply buried and widely dispersed nuclear sites would be a major challenge and would likely require help from the US.
Israeli leaders believe Iran is currently at its weakest point in years. Iran has lost regional influence after Israel’s recent military actions against its allies Hezbollah and Hamas. In addition, Syria’s pro-Iranian regime was overthrown late last year.
Despite this, President Trump is said to favor a diplomatic solution. Gulf Arab states are also urging caution, fearing that a war with Iran could spread into their own countries and disrupt the recent peace they’ve built with Tehran.
