The U.S. intelligence community has warned that “Israel may carry out a preemptive strike against Iran’s nuclear program in the coming months, a move that would escalate tensions in the Middle East.”
An intelligence report indicated that while the potential strike would only delay Iran’s nuclear program by weeks or months at most, it could push Tehran to accelerate uranium enrichment to weapons-grade levels—a red line for both Washington and Tel Aviv.
The report outlined two primary attack options being considered by Israeli officials. The first is a Standoff Strike, where Israeli aircraft would launch air-to-ground ballistic missiles (ALBMs) from outside Iranian airspace, minimizing risks to Israeli warplanes.
The second and riskier option is a Stand-in Attack, where Israeli aircraft would penetrate Iranian airspace and drop BLU-109 bunker-buster bombs on nuclear facilities.
The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump recently approved the sale of guidance systems for these bombs to Israel and notified Congress of the decision last week.
White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes stated that Trump “will not allow Iran to possess a nuclear weapon,” emphasizing that Washington prefers diplomatic solutions but will not wait indefinitely if Tehran does not show serious willingness to negotiate.
Although U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that an Israeli strike would only temporarily disrupt Iran’s nuclear program, some Israeli officials believe it could inflict greater damage on Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
According to a former U.S. official, “there is a dispute between U.S. and Israeli intelligence assessments regarding the effectiveness of such an attack.”
Earlier, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt declared that Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons is a “red line” for Washington.
In a press briefing, Leavitt stated, “The President has made it clear that he will never allow Iran to obtain nuclear capability. This is a red line he has drawn, and he will not allow it to be crossed.”
The U.S. President warned Iranian leaders against “proceeding with what they are currently contemplating” and urged them to reach a nuclear deal that would prevent a large-scale Israeli or American attack on Iran.
Earlier this month, Trump signed a memorandum to reinstate the “maximum pressure” policy on Iran, announcing his determination to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Tehran has repeatedly rejected Trump’s accusations of pursuing nuclear weapons, describing them as a “big lie.” However, it has expressed readiness to offer the U.S. “another opportunity” to resolve disputes between the two countries, while also noting that past nuclear agreements have demonstrated Washington’s failure to uphold its commitments.
