Topline
The Israeli government has told the Israeli Defense Forces to be prepared for the possibility of the U.S. attacking Iran in President Trump’s final days in office, Axios reports, a move that Trump aides have cautioned the president will likely lead to a rapid escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
Lame-duck President Donald Trump speaks of the rise in the stock market, flanked by Vice President ... [+]
Key Facts
The Israeli government’s warning to the IDF is based on a hunch that the weeks before President-elect Joe Biden takes office will be turbulent, not on information from official intelligence reports or correspondence with the White House, according to the report.
Last week, the New York Times reported Trump floated the possibility of attacking Iran’s uranium enrichment facility in Natanz during a meeting with senior advisors after international inspectors signaled that the country had increased its stockpile of nuclear material.
The aides, which included Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, warned Trump that the decision could lead to a rapidly deteriorating fallout as he wraps up his presidency.
The meeting reportedly ended with officials concluding a missile strike inside Iran was not an option.
Hossein Dehghan, an advisor to Iran’s supreme leader, warned last week an American attack on Iran would ignite a “full-fledged war” in the Middle East.
Key Background
Pompeo visited Israel last week and became the highest-ranking U.S. diplomat to visit a West Bank settlement. During his visit, the Secretary of State discussed Iran, and his aides told reporters “all options are on the table,” according to Axios.
Big Number
12. That’s how many times larger Iran’s uranium stockpile is than permitted under the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, according to reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency. Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.
What To Watch For
How Biden responds to the rapidly escalating conflict. Biden has said he wants to rejoin the Iran nuclear deal, but he will have a short window to do so when he takes office on January 20 because the country is set to hold elections in June. Forbes has reached out to Biden’s transition office for comment.
Further Reading
Scoop: Israeli military prepares for possibility Trump will strike Iran (Axios)
Trump Sought Options for Attacking Iran to Stop Its Growing Nuclear Program (New York Times)
