Israel Reported US Intelligence Plans To Attack Iran's Nuclear Facilities

JAKARTA - US intelligence warned Israel was likely to launch an initial attack on Iran's nuclear program in the middle of the year.

This information was written by the Washington Post citing various intelligence reports.

Such attacks would hamper Iran's nuclear program for weeks or months while at the same time increasing tensions in the region and risk causing broader conflict, according to intelligence reports from the end of Joe Biden's administration and the beginning of Donald Trump's administration.

Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. The White House declined to comment.

The Washington Post, as reported by Reuters on Thursday, February 13, said the Israeli government, the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Service and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment.

Brian Hughes, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said President Donald Trump "will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons."

Although he prefers to negotiate a resolution on America's longstanding issue with the Iranian regime peacefully, he will not wait indefinitely if Iran is not willing to negotiate, and in the near future, Hughes said.

The most comprehensive intelligence report came in early January and was processed by the intelligence directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Defense Intelligence Service.

The report warned Israel was likely to try to carry out attacks on Iran's Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities.

Officials and former US officials familiar with the intelligence said Israel had set out bombings carried out against Iran in October had lowered Iran's air defenses and caused the country to be hit by further attacks.

Iran and Israel were involved in a retaliatory attack last year amid rising tensions over Israel's war on Gaza.

Intelligence reports estimate two potential attack options each of which will involve the United States in providing fuel support in the air and intelligence, Post said.

Trump told Fox News in an interview broadcast on Monday he preferred to make a deal with Iran to prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapons, and said he also believed Iran would prefer deals over armed conflict.

"Everyone thought Israel, with our help or approval, would attack and bomb them. I'd rather that didn't happen," Trump said.

The United States under President Barack Obama and his European allies negotiated an agreement with Iran to halt its nuclear program, but Trump at his first term, pushed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, withdrew the United States from the important agreement and ordered the reimposition of sanctions on Tehran in 2018.

Iran has restarted its nuclear program and enriched uranium, according to the UN International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran, Britain, France, and Germany have met in Geneva to find ways to continue nuclear negotiations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian state TV in January.