Israel: Israel is considering a potential military strike against Iran as tension continues to rise between Tehran and Washington over the Iranian nuclear program, US media said on Thursday.
According to Anadolu Agency, NBC News, citing five people with knowledge of the situation, reported that Tel Aviv could unilaterally carry out a strike against Iran in the coming days. The sources indicated that Israel views any nuclear agreement between the US and Iran, particularly if it permits Tehran to enrich uranium, as unacceptable.
It remains unclear whether Israel would undertake a limited military strike now or wait until nuclear negotiations further develop. The US and Iran are set to hold a sixth round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Oman on Sunday, with Iran's uranium enrichment program being the main sticking point. While the US demands a complete halt to enrichment, Iranian negotiators insist the program is non-negotiable and will continue with or without a deal.
US President Donald Trump, who has previously advocated for a military response if diplomacy fails, expressed his doubts on Wednesday about Iran agreeing to stop uranium enrichment. Trump stated, "They're just asking for things that you can't do. They seek enrichment. We can't have enrichment."
The sources, however, mentioned they were unaware of any US plans for direct involvement in any possible Israeli strike against Iran. On Wednesday, the US ordered the voluntary departure of nonessential employees and military families from some locations in the Middle East, with Trump confirming that American personnel face evacuation due to regional safety concerns.
Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh threatened on Wednesday to target US bases in the region if a conflict breaks out between the two countries over Tehran's nuclear program. His threat followed a testimony by Gen. Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), before Congress, where he presented a 'range of options' to Trump to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.