Recent intelligence reports indicate that the United States has acquired information suggesting Israel is preparing to target Iranian nuclear sites, despite the Trump administration’s ongoing diplomatic efforts with Tehran, according to several US officials who spoke to CNN.
Such an action would represent a significant departure from President Donald Trump’s stance, officials noted. It could also potentially escalate tensions into a wider regional conflict in the Middle East, which the US has been trying to prevent since the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza in 2023.
❗️ Netanyahu may BOMB Iran’s nuclear sites — US intel
Trump trying to end wars — is Israel starting one? pic.twitter.com/114qGKmUiH
— RT (@RT_com) May 20, 2025
Officials warn that it remains uncertain whether Israeli leaders have reached a definitive conclusion, and there is considerable disagreement within the US government regarding the probability of Israel taking action. The decision on whether and how Israel might proceed is likely contingent on its assessment of US negotiations with Tehran concerning its nuclear ambitions.
However, one source familiar with US intelligence remarked, ‘The likelihood of an Israeli strike on an Iranian nuclear facility has increased significantly in recent months.’ Furthermore, the possibility of a US-Iran agreement brokered by Trump that does not eliminate all of Iran’s uranium enhances the chances of such a strike occurring.
The growing concerns are fueled not only by public and private statements from high-ranking Israeli officials indicating that such a move is under consideration but also by intercepted communications and observations of Israeli military activities that may imply an impending strike, according to multiple intelligence sources. Among the military preparations noted by the US are the deployment of air munitions and the conclusion of an air exercise, as reported by two of the sources.
However, these same indicators may also indicate Israel’s attempt to compel Iran to relinquish critical aspects of its nuclear program by warning of potential repercussions if it fails to comply—highlighting the intricate challenges the White House is currently facing.
President Trump has openly threatened military action against Iran should his administration’s attempts to negotiate a new nuclear agreement aimed at curbing or eliminating Tehran’s nuclear ambitions prove unsuccessful. Nevertheless, Trump has also established a timeframe for diplomatic engagement.
In a correspondence to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in mid-March, Trump imposed a 60-day deadline for these negotiations to yield results, according to a source familiar with the matter. It has now surpassed 60 days since that letter was sent, and 38 days since the initial round of discussions commenced.
A senior Western diplomat who met with the president earlier this month indicated that Trump conveyed the US would allow only a few weeks for these negotiations to succeed before considering military action. Currently, however, the White House’s stance remains one of diplomacy.
This situation has placed Israel in a difficult position, as noted by Jonathan Panikoff, a former senior intelligence official with expertise in the region. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces the dual challenge of preventing a US-Iran agreement that Israel deems unsatisfactory while also maintaining a good relationship with Trump, who has already diverged from Netanyahu on significant security matters in the area. Panikoff remarked that ultimately, Israeli decision-making will hinge on US policy choices and actions, as well as the agreements President Trump reaches or does not reach with Iran, adding that he does not believe Netanyahu would risk completely jeopardizing the US-Israel relationship by launching a strike without at least implicit US consent.
The United States is enhancing its intelligence gathering efforts in preparation to support Israel should its leaders opt for military action, according to a senior US official. However, a source familiar with the Trump administration’s perspective indicated that the US is unlikely to assist Israel in conducting strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at this time, unless there is a significant provocation from Tehran.
Israel lacks the capability to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program independently, as it requires American support for midair refueling and specialized munitions to penetrate deep underground sites, a necessity corroborated by previous US intelligence assessments. An Israeli source informed CNN that Israel is ready to undertake military operations independently if the US were to pursue what this source termed a ‘bad deal’ with Iran that Israel cannot accept. ‘It seems more probable they would strike to disrupt the deal if they believe Trump is inclined to accept a ‘bad deal’,’ remarked another individual familiar with US intelligence. ‘The Israelis have been quite clear in signaling this to us, both publicly and privately.’
A US intelligence report from February indicated that Israel could deploy military aircraft or long-range missiles to exploit Iran’s air defense systems. However, the same report noted that such strikes would only marginally hinder the Iranian nuclear program and would not serve as a comprehensive solution. ‘This presents a significant challenge for Netanyahu,’ stated Panikoff.
Currently, US negotiations with Iran are stalled over a demand that Tehran cease uranium enrichment, a process that can facilitate weaponization but is also essential for civilian nuclear power generation. Special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is leading the US delegation, told ABC News over the weekend that Washington ‘cannot permit even 1% of an enrichment capability’ in any agreement.
On Tuesday, Khamenei expressed skepticism about the possibility of reaching an agreement with the United States regarding Tehran’s nuclear program, labeling the US demand for Iran to cease uranium enrichment as a significant error. Iran maintains that it is entitled to enrich uranium under the United Nations’ Treaty on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and asserts that it will not abandon this right under any circumstances.
According to Witkoff, another round of discussions may occur in Europe this week. Both the US and Iran have presented proposals; however, after over a month of negotiations facilitated by Oman, there is currently no US proposal approved by Trump, as reported by sources.
In February, US intelligence agencies warned that Israel is likely to target facilities critical to Iran’s nuclear program this year, as previously reported by CNN. A US official remarked that Israel has consistently held the view that military action is the only viable means to halt Iran’s military nuclear ambitions.
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