Israel considering a limited attack on Iran's nuclear facilities

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Israel has not ruled out the possibility of striking Iran’s nuclear facilities in the coming months, despite President Donald Trump informing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States is currently unwilling to support such an action, according to an Israeli official and two other individuals familiar with the discussions.Israeli leaders remain firm in their pledge to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, with Netanyahu emphasizing that any negotiations with Tehran must result in the full dismantling of its nuclear program.U.S. and Iranian negotiators are preparing for a second round of preliminary nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday.In recent months, Israel has presented the Trump administration with several proposals for targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, including options with late spring and summer timelines. The plans, sources said, involve a combination of airstrikes and commando operations that could delay Tehran’s nuclear weapons capabilities by anywhere from a few months to over a year.The New York Times reported that during a recent White House meeting, Trump told Netanyahu the U.S. wished to prioritize diplomacy with Iran and was not prepared to support a military strike in the near term.However, Israeli officials now believe their military could carry out a more limited strike requiring less direct U.S. involvement. Such an operation would be scaled down compared to earlier proposals.It remains unclear whether or when Israel might pursue this course of action, particularly as nuclear talks are underway. A unilateral strike could strain ties with Washington and jeopardize broader American support.Elements of the current plans were also presented to the Biden administration last year, according to two former senior officials. Most of those scenarios involved substantial U.S. assistance, such as direct military support or intelligence sharing. Israel has also asked that the U.S. assist in its defense should Iran retaliate.When asked for comment, the U.S. National Security Council referred Reuters to remarks Trump made on Thursday. The president said he has not ruled out an Israeli strike but emphasized he is not “in a rush” to endorse military action.“I think Iran has a chance to be a great country and live peacefully,” Trump said. “That’s my first option. If there’s a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran. But I believe they want to talk.”The Israeli prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A senior Israeli official told Reuters no final decision had been made regarding a strike on Iran.A senior Iranian security official said Tehran was aware of Israeli planning and warned that any attack would be met with “a harsh and unwavering response.” The official added that Israel’s motives include frustration with diplomatic progress and Netanyahu’s domestic political pressures.Netanyahu had previously faced resistance from the Biden administration over similar plans. Former officials said Netanyahu had sought U.S. leadership on a potential strike, but Washington maintained that such action would only be justified if Iran significantly escalated its nuclear activity.Experts have long noted that a successful strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure would likely require extensive U.S. military involvement, particularly to target fortified underground facilities.While the smaller-scale operation now under Israeli consideration would require less direct American involvement — notably fewer U.S. bombers with bunker-busting munitions — Israel would still need a U.S. guarantee of military support in case of Iranian retaliation, according to the sources.