Recent US intelligence assessments suggest that Israel is considering military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, with potential action taking place in 2025, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The assessments were prepared during the transitions between the Biden and Trump administrations, with sources indicating that Israel perceives an opportunity to act against a weakened Iran.
One report, presented in the final days of the Biden administration, suggested that Israel would push for US support, anticipating a more favorable stance under the incoming Trump administration. A second intelligence dossier, shared at the start of Trump’s tenure, reaffirmed that Israel was contemplating strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Some Trump officials reportedly even explored the possibility of US forces participating in an Israeli-led operation.
Neither the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office nor the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) commented on the reports, and US agencies, including the National Security Council and the Directorate of National Intelligence, also remained silent.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that Iran is enriching uranium to levels with no civilian application. The country has also restricted international inspectors from accessing key nuclear sites. Additionally, US intelligence sources cited by The New York Times suggest that a covert team of Iranian scientists may be preparing to accelerate nuclear weapons development if given the order.
Israel has escalated its military campaign against Iran and its proxies since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023. With Hezbollah significantly weakened by Israeli operations, some Israeli officials believe the window for a preemptive strike on Iran is opening. In recent months, Israel has conducted military actions against Iranian-backed groups in Yemen and Syria while responding to Iran’s missile and drone attacks.
During Israel’s prior strikes on Iranian military sites in 2024, then-President Joe Biden reportedly urged Israeli leaders to avoid targeting nuclear facilities. However, Trump’s incoming team signaled a different approach, with Israeli officials believing he may either approve an Israeli strike or authorize direct US military action against Iran’s nuclear sites.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated last year that Iran’s nuclear facilities were “more vulnerable than ever.” Meanwhile, Trump has expressed a preference for diplomatic negotiations over military action, while maintaining maximum-pressure sanctions on Iran. On Monday, he told Fox News that he believes a deal can be reached, but added, “Everyone thinks Israel, with our help or our approval, will go in and bomb the hell out of ’em. I would prefer that not happen.”