Israel could attack Iran's nuclear facilities in 2025.
Israel is considering attacking Iranian nuclear facilities in the coming months, the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials.
On February 12, the Wall Street Journal reported that US intelligence agencies had presented a report suggesting that Israeli leaders were "considering significant attacks on Iranian nuclear sites" by 2025.
On February 13, the Washington Post reported that the intelligence directorates of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Defense Intelligence Agency had concluded that Iran's Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites could be targeted "within the first six months of 2025." The newspaper cited sources saying Israel believes the Islamic Republic's air defenses were weakened after the late October attack and that Tehran is more vulnerable due to economic difficulties related to sanctions.
According to the newspaper, US intelligence agencies envisioned that Israel could launch ballistic missiles from outside Iranian airspace or drop bunker-busting bombs from fighter jets flying over targets. The article stated that both scenarios would likely require US support "in the form of aerial refueling as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance."
The Wall Street Journal, citing its sources, reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu views President Donald Trump as more lenient toward military action against Tehran than his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Iran has recently signaled its willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States, with the Iranian Foreign Ministry clarifying last week that "if the main obstacle for the United States is Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons, then that can be resolved."
Earlier this week, in an interview with Fox News, President Trump stated that "everyone thinks that Israel, with our help or approval, will go in and bomb Iran intensely," while also asserting that he "doesn't expect that to happen." Last month, he expressed hope that Iran would agree to a "deal" regarding its nuclear program.
Back in 2015, the Islamic Republic signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with world powers, agreeing to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of sanctions, until Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018 during his first term.
