US Intel Report: Israel Could Strike Iran’s Nuclear Sites by Midyear

U.S. intelligence has warned that Israel is likely to carry out a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear program by midyear, according to a Wednesday report from The Washington Post, which cited multiple intelligence assessments.

Reports from both the late Biden administration and early Trump administration suggest that such an attack could delay Iran’s nuclear program by weeks or months but would also heighten regional tensions and increase the risk of a broader conflict, the newspaper stated.

Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, told the Post that President Donald Trump “will not permit Iran to get a nuclear weapon.” He added, “While he prefers negotiating a resolution to America’s long-standing issues with the Iranian regime peacefully, he will not wait indefinitely if Iran isn’t willing to deal, and soon.”

According to The Washington Post, the most detailed intelligence report on the matter was issued in early January by the intelligence directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Defense Intelligence Agency. It warned that Israel was likely to target Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities.

Current and former U.S. officials familiar with the intelligence indicated that Israel believes its airstrikes on Iran in October weakened the country’s air defenses, making it more vulnerable to another attack. The Post did not disclose the officials’ identities.

Tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated over the past year, with both countries engaging in retaliatory strikes linked to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

In an interview with Fox News that aired Monday, Trump reiterated his preference for a diplomatic approach, stating, “Everyone thinks Israel, with our help or our approval, will go in and bomb the hell out of them. I would prefer that not happen.”

During President Barack Obama’s tenure, the U.S. and its European allies brokered an agreement with Iran to halt its nuclear program. However, in 2018, during his first term, Trump—encouraged by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—pulled the U.S. out of the accord and reinstated sanctions on Tehran.

Since then, Iran has resumed its nuclear program, including uranium enrichment, according to the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency.

In January, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iran’s state TV that Iran, along with Britain, France, and Germany, had met in Geneva to explore ways to restart nuclear negotiations.