Over the past 48 hours, Israel has been asking the administration of US President Donald Trump to join a war with Iran to dismantle its nuclear program.
Axios reported this with reference to two Israeli officials.
Thus, it is indicated that Israel lacks bunker-busting bombs and large bombers needed to destroy Iran's uranium enrichment facility in Fordow, which is built in the mountains and is located deep underground. Both of which are within flying distance of Iran.
At the same time, the Trump administration has so far distanced itself from the Israeli operation and argued that it would be illegitimate for Iran to retaliate against American targets.
A direct attack on Iran, even if the US participation is limited to bombing one facility, would draw the US directly into the war. However, if Fordow continues to operate after the operation is over, Israel will not achieve its goal of “eliminating” Iran’s nuclear program.
An Israeli official told Axios that the United States could join the operation, and that President Trump even suggested he would do so if necessary in a recent conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A White House official denied the report on Friday. A second US official confirmed on Saturday that Israel had urged the Trump administration to join the war, but said the administration was not currently considering it.
A senior White House official told Axios on Saturday that “whatever happens today cannot be prevented,” referring to the Israeli attacks.
“But we have the ability to negotiate a successful peaceful resolution to this conflict if Iran is willing. The fastest way for Iran to accomplish peace is to give up its nuclear weapons program,” the senior official added.
Israeli officials have raised the issue of US involvement in the elimination of Fordow with American counterparts since the beginning of Israel’s operation. An Israeli source said the US was considering the proposal and stressed that Israel hoped Trump would agree.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on the night of June 13, the Israeli army launched strikes on Iran.
Iran launched a missile attack on Israel in response to the shelling that took place during the day. On the evening of June 13, Iran launched two salvos of surface-to-surface missiles at Israel, hitting fewer than 100 targets in total. Most were intercepted by air defense systems.
Following Israel’s attacks on a key uranium enrichment facility in Iran’s Natanz (Isfahan province), radiation was released inside the facility – in the form of alpha particles, said Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Meanwhile, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated that the continuation of the Iran-Israel conflict and rising tensions in the Middle East could help russia in its war against Ukraine.
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