Its officials are concerned that it is about to expand production of its ballistic missile program, which was damaged by Israeli military strikes over the summer.
According to the American network NBC News, in his upcoming trip to Washington, Benjamin Netanyahu will inform Donald Trump about the options for a new attack.
The network cited a person with direct knowledge of Israel’s plans, as well as four former US officials who were briefed on them.
According to the report, Israeli officials are also concerned that Iran is rebuilding uranium enrichment facilities that the US bombed in June. But they see Iran’s efforts to rebuild ballistic missile production facilities and repair damaged air defense systems as more immediate concerns.
“We haven’t officially arranged it”
Donald Trump’s meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled after Christmas in Florida. There, the sources said, Netanyahu is expected to argue that Iran’s expanding ballistic missile program is a threat that could require immediate action.
According to the same sources, among the arguments he will use will be that Iran’s actions pose risks. Not just for Israel but for the wider region, including US interests. The Israeli leader is expected to present Trump with options for the US to join or assist in any new military operations, the sources said.
According to Israeli officials, the Trump-Netanyahu meeting at Mar-a-Lago will take place on December 29. However, the American president does not officially confirm it. “We haven’t made it official, but he would like to see me,” he said.
For now, the Israeli government has declined to comment. While the Iranian Mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment.
The White House’s response
Asked about it, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly refused to give a clear answer. “The International Atomic Energy Agency and the Iranian government have confirmed the United States government’s assessment that Operation Midnight Hammer completely eliminated Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” he said. “As President Trump has said, if Iran pursues nuclear weapons, that site will be attacked and eliminated before they even get close.”
In an address to the nation on Wednesday, Trump said he told Americans he had “destroyed the Iranian nuclear threat and ended the war in Gaza, bringing peace to the Middle East for the first time in 3,000 years.”
Israeli concerns about Iran come as Tehran has expressed interest in resuming diplomatic talks with the US. The aim is to limit the nuclear deal, which could potentially complicate Israel’s plans to involve the US in new operations.
