Amid reports of a potential “maximum pressure 2.0” campaign from the incoming Trump administration, the Israeli air force is reportedly preparing for a possible strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Recent geopolitical shifts, including the weakening of Iran’s allies due to the decline of the Assad regime and Hezbollah, have increased Iran’s isolation and prompted Israel to reconsider targeting Iran’s nuclear program, a move previously considered taboo.
While the IDF has not yet commented, Israeli reports suggest that concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, viewed as a significant threat by Israel and its allies, are driving this renewed consideration. The tensions between the West and nations like Russia and Iran are further exacerbating the situation.
The Biden administration, alongside international partners including the IAEA, previously monitored Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel struck part of Iran’s nuclear program in late October, but emphasized it wasn’t sufficient to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Similarly, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated in November that Iran is more vulnerable than ever to attacks on its nuclear sites, adding that Israel has the opportunity to eliminate the existential threat posed by Iran.
The extent of the impact of Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear program remains unclear, with the IAEA reporting that Iran is rapidly increasing its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium.
President-elect Trump has pledged a strong stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and a report suggests his transition team is reviewing a “maximum pressure 2.0” strategy.
Reports indicate Trump’s team is exploring options to curb Iran’s nuclear program, including potential preventive airstrikes, while avoiding direct military conflict with Iran.
While the Trump transition team hasn’t commented, in a recent interview, the president-elect responded “anything can happen” when asked about the possibility of war with Iran.
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