Escalating tensions in the Middle East have brought renewed focus on Israel’s potential plans for a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, with sources indicating that Israel is seriously considering unilateral action in the near future.
The deliberations come as the United States engages in delicate negotiations with Tehran to curb its nuclear program, highlighting a growing rift between the two allies over how to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Why would Israel attack Iran?
According to multiple reports, Israel is preparing for a possible operation targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, driven by concerns that ongoing US-Iran talks may result in an agreement that Israel deems insufficient to prevent Iran from advancing toward nuclear weapons capability.
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have long viewed Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat, and recent developments suggest that Israel is unwilling to rely solely on diplomatic efforts led by the US.
A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that Israel has intensified military planning, including air force exercises designed to simulate strikes on Iran’s fortified nuclear sites, such as the uranium enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow. ‘Israel cannot afford to wait while Iran edges closer to a nuclear breakout,’ the official said. ‘If the talks fail to deliver ironclad guarantees, we are prepared to act alone.’
What could the US do?
The United States, under President Donald Trump, has explicitly distanced itself from any direct involvement in a potential Israeli strike.
Mr. Trump, who has prioritized a diplomatic resolution, has reportedly urged Mr. Netanyahu to refrain from military action while negotiations with Iran progress. The talks, mediated through Oman, aim to limit Iran’s uranium enrichment and secure sanctions relief in exchange. However, the US President has expressed diminishing confidence in reaching a deal, stating in a recent interview, ‘Something’s changed with Iran. I’m less optimistic than I was a few months ago.’
US officials have emphasized that any Israeli strike would likely occur without American military support. The Pentagon has no plans to deploy B-2 bombers, which are capable of penetrating Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities, and has instead focused on evacuating nonessential personnel and military families from bases in Iraq, Bahrain, and Kuwait, signaling concerns about potential Iranian retaliation targeting US assets in the region.
Iran’s reaction
Iran, for its part, has issued stern warnings against any attack. Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh declared that any Israeli strike would prompt a devastating response, with Iranian forces prepared to target both Israeli and US interests in the region. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has also claimed to possess detailed intelligence on Israel’s ownnuclear facilities, threatening to strike them in retaliation for any attack on Iranian soil.
The situation is further complicated by recent leaks of classified US documents detailing Israel’s strike preparations, which were allegedly disclosed by a former CIA analyst, Asif William Rahman. Rahman was sentenced to 37 months in prison for violating the Espionage Act, raising questions about the security of sensitive military plans and the potential for further escalations.
Regional actors, including the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, have also weighed in, warning that an Israeli attack on Iran could ‘drag the entire region into war.’ The Houthis, part of Iran’s broader Axis of Resistance, have already engaged in missile and drone attacks against Israel, further inflaming tensions.
Analysts warn that an Israeli strike could have far-reaching consequences, including radioactive fallout, civilian casualties, and a broader regional conflict that could disrupt global energy markets. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has cautioned that such an attack could push Iran to accelerate its nuclear program or even withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, escalating the crisis further.