Israel is preparing to present a comprehensive intelligence file to US President Donald Trump during his anticipated meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the US state of Florida. The objective is to persuade him to take practical steps against Iran, including the possibility of launching a new attack, according to a report published today, Sunday, by the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom.
The Israeli newspaper indicated that Trump is hesitant to take decisive action, and that Netanyahu’s meeting with him, despite being wanted by the International Criminal Court, aims to define a shared roadmap and coordinate a comprehensive approach to addressing what it describes as the Iranian problem.
According to the newspaper’s sources, the intelligence file will focus on the renewal of Iran’s nuclear programme, the development of ballistic missiles, the activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and support for and financing of terrorism through Tehran’s regional proxies.
Tel Aviv, according to the Israeli newspaper, believes that the overthrow of the Iranian regime is the fundamental solution to ending wars in the region.
The report adds that Israel is, in this context, studying military and economic options in parallel with supporting internal opposition efforts to destabilise the system in Tehran, amid economic deterioration in Iran and potential Western pressure to tighten sanctions.
The Israeli newspaper’s disclosure came after NBC News reported yesterday, Saturday, citing Israeli and American sources, that Netanyahu plans to brief Trump on plans to carry out potential new strikes against Iran.
The sources said that concern among Israeli officials has increased over what they describe as Iran’s expansion of its ballistic missile programme, which they say was damaged by Israeli military strikes earlier this year, and that they are preparing to present the US president with options to attack Iran again.
The sources added that Israeli officials are also concerned about Iran restarting uranium enrichment sites that were targeted by US strikes during the Twelve Day War in June.
The sources said that the Israeli prime minister will present Trump with options to join or assist in any new military operations, according to the American network.
However, two former Israeli officials said that Trump may be less enthusiastic about any new military action against Iran if tensions continue between American and Israeli officials over Netanyahu’s approach to the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which entered into force on 10 October and which Israel has violated multiple times.
This comes as Tehran has expressed its desire to resume diplomatic talks with the United States regarding its nuclear programme.
As part of what the United States called Operation Midnight Hammer, the US military targeted Iranian nuclear facilities at dawn on 22 June using more than 100 aircraft, submarines, and seven B 2 bombers, following days of continuous Israeli strikes on Iranian military installations and the targeting of officials that began on 13 June, before the war ended on 24 June.
