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Israel has not ruled out a potential military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities in the coming months, despite US President Donald Trump privately telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington is currently unwilling to support such a move, according to an Israeli official and two individuals familiar with the matter.
Israeli officials remain firm in their longstanding position that Tehran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has consistently insisted that any future agreement between global powers and Iran must involve the full dismantling of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
This comes as US and Iranian negotiators prepare for a second round of preliminary nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday.
The renewed diplomatic efforts have prompted concern in Jerusalem that negotiations may not yield the level of restrictions Israel deems necessary to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear threshold state.
Over the past several months, Israeli officials have floated several military options to the Trump administration.
These proposals included a mix of targeted airstrikes and elite commando operations, with execution windows ranging from late spring through summer, sources told reporters.
The scope and severity of the options vary, with estimates suggesting they could delay Iran’s nuclear capabilities by several months to over a year.
Despite Trump’s reluctance, Israeli officials believe a more limited strike that requires minimal US involvement could be viable.
Such an operation would be narrower in scale than those initially presented to both the current Trump administration and previously to President Biden’s team last year.
“Israel continues to evaluate its options, including independent action if it becomes clear that diplomacy is not sufficient to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” a senior Israeli official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Trump, according to a recent report by The New York Times, told Netanyahu during a White House meeting earlier this month that his administration currently prefers to give diplomatic channels a chance and would not back a military strike on Iran in the near term.
Nevertheless, Israeli officials reportedly see a window for unilateral or limited action, particularly if talks stall or fail.
Military analysts caution that even a limited Israeli strike on Iran’s well-protected nuclear infrastructure could spark retaliation and escalate into a broader regional conflict.
Recent tensions flared in October 2024, when Iran launched an unprecedented missile barrage against Israel, prompting heightened military alertness.
The Israeli military displayed the remains of Iranian Kheibar Shekan and Emad ballistic missiles at a southern base following that attack.
While parts of Israel’s military planning were already shared with the Biden administration during its final year, most proposals required extensive US military and intelligence support.
Current Israeli strategies may reduce dependence on Washington, but sources say Israel is still seeking American backing for missile defense support in the event of Iranian retaliation.
For now, all eyes are on the upcoming nuclear negotiations in Rome. The outcome may well determine whether Israel proceeds with military action or holds off in hopes of a tougher, verifiable deal.