The Israeli Air Force is reportedly preparing for a potential strike against Iran’s nuclear program, as the incoming Trump administration considers a “maximum pressure 2.0” campaign against Tehran. The fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, a former ally of Iran, has left Tehran increasingly isolated. Israeli reports indicate that the evolving reality in the region has prompted Israel to consider targeting Iran’s nuclear program, which has been deemed one of the greatest emerging threats.
The U.S., under the Biden administration, along with its international partners, has urged Israel not to strike Iran’s nuclear installations. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the IDF had hit and degraded part of Iran’s nuclear program during a retaliatory strike in late October, but warned it was not enough to thwart Tehran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon.
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies has analyzed where Iran’s nuclear infrastructure is located, as Israel mulls retaliatory attacks. The report remains unclear on the extent to which Iran’s nuclear program has been impacted by the Israeli strikes, but the IAEA continues to assess that Iran is rapidly bolstering its stockpiles of near-weapons grade enriched uranium.
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to take a hard-line approach when it comes to Tehran’s attempts to develop a nuclear weapon, and his transition team is evaluating a “maximum pressure 2.0” campaign. Trump has reportedly called on his team to devise options on how the U.S. could clamp down on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, including through the possible use of preventive airstrikes. However, without pulling the U.S. military into a war with Tehran.