Senior Washington Post columnist David Ignatius reported this morning (Friday) that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump about a potential military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
According to the report, the two leaders discussed several options, including direct U.S. military support for an Israeli strike, which would involve intelligence-sharing, aerial refueling, and additional strategic assistance. Another option on the table was a strong diplomatic ultimatum from Washington demanding that Iran abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Trump: “Two Ways to Stop Them – With Bombs or a Deal”
During the discussions, Netanyahu reportedly presented Israeli intelligence assessments, indicating that Iran is in a position of strategic vulnerability, especially following the weakening of its proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. Israel views this as a unique opportunity to take action against Iran’s nuclear program and has signaled that if Tehran does not agree to completely abandon its nuclear ambitions, Jerusalem is prepared to launch a military strike – with or without U.S. backing.
Despite Israel’s pressure, Trump has reportedly expressed hesitation about escalating into military conflict and prefers to pursue diplomacy first. In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated: “Everyone assumes that Israel, with our backing or approval, will just go in and bomb them to hell. I’d rather that not happen.” He argued that Iran is currently in a weakened position, which should be leveraged for tough negotiations rather than immediate military action.
“There are two ways to stop them: with bombs or with a written piece of paper. And I prefer a deal,” Trump said, adding that he won’t wait forever: “If they don’t cooperate, we will act accordingly.”
U.S. Supplied Israel With Bunker-Busting Bombs
According to sources cited in the Washington Post, the Biden administration previously rejected full backing of Israel’s ultimatum, but with Trump’s return to office, the decision now rests with him. The U.S. has already provided Israel with bunker-busting bombs, which are capable of penetrating Iran’s underground nuclear facilities at Fordow. However, it remains unclear whether the U.S. would provide full operational support in the event of an Israeli strike.
Strike Could Happen Within Six Months
U.S. intelligence assessments suggest that Israel could launch a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities within the first six months of 2025 if no diplomatic agreement is reached. While American intelligence officials believe such a strike would delay Iran’s nuclear program by only six months, Israeli defense officials argue that a successful attack could set Iran back by a year or more.
