Israel's impatience with Iran's nuclear program grows, prompting threats of unilateral action. Sources reveal Israeli officials urged the Trump administration to reject a two-week deadline for a deal, warning of potential independent military action against Iran's Fordow nuclear facility before the deadline. This follows ongoing internal debate within the Trump administration regarding U.S. involvement in a potential Israeli strike
Amid rising tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Katz, and military chief Zamir held a tense phone call Thursday with Trump administration officials. Sources reveal Israel's urgent concerns over Iran's nuclear program and unwillingness to wait two weeks for a U.S. decision on potential military intervention. Israel may act alone against Iran's Fordow nuclear facility before the deadline
Israel rejects Trump's two-week deadline on Iran, says sources. Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Katz, and military chief Zamir reportedly urged immediate action against Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, fearing a shrinking window of opportunity. Unnamed sources say Israel may act alone if the U.S. doesn't intervene within the proposed timeframe. The urgency stems from concerns about Iran's advanced nuclear program and the need for bunker-busting capabilities
Facing a tight deadline, Israel considers preemptive strike on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility. Sources reveal Israeli concerns over Iran's advanced enrichment program housed deep within a mountain, prompting consideration of unilateral action before a potential US-brokered deal. Only the US possesses the bunker-busting weaponry—like the GBU-57—capable of reaching this heavily fortified site, raising the stakes of this escalating geopolitical crisis
Reuters reported on Saturday that the United States is moving B-2 bombers to the Pacific island of Guam, reinforcing the possibility that the U.S. could participate directly in an attack. The B-2 can be equipped to carry America’s 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, designed to destroy targets deep underground, such as the one at Fordow.
Israel urges immediate action against Iran, rejecting Trump's two-week deadline. A Washington source reveals Israel communicated its concerns to the U.S. administration, deeming the timeframe insufficient and advocating for quicker intervention regarding Iran's nuclear program
Tensions Rise: Israeli Officials Urge Immediate Iran Action, Rejecting US Two-Week Deadline. A tense phone call revealed Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, pressing the Trump administration for immediate action against Iran's nuclear program, rejecting a proposed two-week delay. Vice President Vance voiced US reluctance for direct involvement, citing concerns about being drawn into war. Defense Secretary Hegseth also participated in the call, highlighting the escalating conflict and the debate within the Trump administration over US intervention
Tensions Rise: Israel Urges Immediate Iran Action, Bypassing Two-Week Deadline. A Thursday phone call between Israeli officials—including Prime Minister Netanyahu—and the Trump administration revealed Israel's impatience with a proposed two-week deadline regarding Iran's nuclear program. The Jerusalem Post confirmed the call, highlighting Israel's readiness for unilateral action
Trump's potential Iran strike sparks deep divisions within his own coalition. Prominent supporters are urging against a new Middle East war, creating significant internal conflict as the President weighs military action
Senator Vance's stance on US military intervention is complex. While he's voiced criticism of past engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan, he's recently defended President Trump against Republican calls for non-intervention in the escalating Iran conflict
Senator Lindsey Graham and other Republicans urge Trump to support Israel's potential strike against Iran's nuclear program, hoping he'll facilitate its complete dismantlement before a looming deadline
Trump's shifting stance on Iran: While campaigning, he vowed to avoid "stupid" wars. Now, faced with Israel's potential strike, his administration grapples with U.S. involvement. Recent rhetoric suggests a more aggressive approach toward Tehran, as Israel reportedly urges immediate action against Iran's nuclear program, potentially without U.S. support
Iran maintains its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, a claim disputed by Israel, which is reportedly considering unilateral action against Iranian nuclear facilities
White House Silent on Israel's Impending Iran Action
No response was immediately received from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Iran's UN mission regarding the escalating Israel-Iran nuclear standoff and potential US involvement
Publicly, Netanyahu has not ruled out Israel attacking Fordow alone, though officials have not provided any details on how that would be achieved.
Four sources said it is now increasingly likely that the country will launch a solo military operation. Israeli air superiority over much of Iran makes an operation more feasible, though still risky, said two of the sources.
The Israelis feel they have the momentum and have limited time given the costs of the war, one source added.
“I don’t see them waiting much longer,” said the source.
It is not clear whether such an operation would involve bombing, ground forces, or both. Two of the sources said that rather than attempting to destroy the entire site Israel could instead do significant damage to it.
That could mean focusing on destroying what is inside the site rather than the site itself, said one of the sources, declining to elaborate.
Some analysts have speculated that Israel could use special forces to enter Fordow and blow it up from inside.
Another scenario being considered, according to a source familiar with the matter, would be to drop a series of munitions in rapid succession in an attempt to breach the fortified site, similar to how the Israeli military killed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah last year.
Such a strike could be followed by an incursion by special forces, the source said.
It is not clear that Israel has munitions powerful enough to penetrate the fortified facility. It is widely believed that to have a high chance of success, U.S. intervention would be needed.
But even with the massive firepower of a joint U.S.-Israeli military action, military and nuclear experts believe that a military operation would probably only temporarily set back a program the West fears is already aimed at producing atom bombs one day, although Iran denies it.
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(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Samia Nakhoul, Alexander Cornwell and Emily Rose; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Steve Holland in Washington and Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Writing by Don Durfee; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
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