Photo: Depositphotos
Israel is considering a limited strike on Iranian nuclear facilities in the coming months, despite the fact that US President Donald Trump is not yet ready to support such an operation. Reuters reports this with reference to an Israeli official and two informed sources.
According to sources, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a clear signal from Trump at a recent meeting at the White House: Washington currently prefers diplomacy in negotiations with Tehran. However, Israel reserves the right to act independently.
Israeli officials have stressed that they will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, and Netanyahu continues to insist on the complete curtailment of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear programme as a prerequisite for any agreement.
Against the backdrop of a new round of preliminary talks between the US and Iran, which are due to take place in Rome next Saturday, Israel, according to Reuters, has presented the Trump administration with a number of strike scenarios – some of which have a timeframe of late spring or summer. These include a combination of air strikes and special operations aimed at temporarily weakening Iran’s nuclear infrastructure – for periods ranging from several months to a year or more.
However, after the restrained response of the United States, the Israeli leadership is considering a limited strike that would not require direct involvement of the US military. Such actions could be smaller in scale than the original plans, but would preserve Israel’s political flexibility.
The New York Times reported that Trump had made it clear to Netanyahu that the United States was not prepared to support a military solution to the conflict in the short term. However, the president himself told reporters on Thursday that he had “not dissuaded” Israel from striking, but was in no hurry to support it.
“I think Iran has a chance to become a great country and live happily without death,” Trump said. If there is a second option, I think it will be very bad for Iran, and Iran itself understands that.”
In the past, Israel has presented similar attack options to the Biden administration, according to two former senior officials. Most of them called for significant American support – military, intelligence and missile defense – in the event of an Iranian response.
Now, Israel is likely preparing to act more autonomously. Such an escalation could jeopardise current US diplomatic efforts, as well as political support for Israel in Washington – especially if the Rome round of talks fails.
