The Blubber

Israel has pressed the United States over the past two days to participate in its newly launched military campaign against Iran, but Washington is not currently considering involvement, according to a report from Axios, citing both Israeli and American officials.

Two Israeli officials told the outlet that, within the past 48 hours, Israel asked President Donald Trump’s administration to join its attacks targeting Iran’s nuclear and military facilities.

A U.S. official confirmed that Israel had made the request, though emphasized that the Trump administration is not presently weighing participation in the conflict, Axios reported.

According to the report, Israel is seeking American support primarily to help destroy Iran’s underground Fordo uranium enrichment facility — a site that may lie beyond the reach of Israel’s military capabilities on its own.

A senior White House official told Axios on Thursday that “whatever happens” with Israel’s strikes on Iran “cannot be prevented,” but added, “We have the ability to negotiate a successful peaceful resolution to this conflict if Iran is willing. The fastest way for Iran to accomplish peace is to give up its nuclear weapons program.”

Earlier, Axios reported that President Trump recently told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. would consider a strike on the Fordo site if it became necessary to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, citing Israeli officials.

However, the White House has officially denied that Trump is currently considering a U.S. military strike on Iran, stating that now is not the time to pursue such action.