U.S. intelligence has gathered new indications that Israel may be preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran as President Donald Trump warns that time is running out to secure a nuclear agreement.
According to CNN, the intelligence includes intercepted Israeli communications, observations of Israeli military movements, and statements from senior Israeli officials suggesting that preparations for a strike could be underway.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department and the foreign ministries of Iran and Israel for comment.
Why It Matters
An Israeli strike on Iran would mark a significant rupture with the Trump administration, which is currently engaged in nuclear talks with Tehran. A unilateral move by Israel could shatter the fragile diplomatic efforts and potentially trigger a broader conflict across the Middle East. Officials quoted in the report noted that while Israel lacks the capability to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program without U.S. assistance, it may act independently if it views the final deal as inadequate.
What to Know
The CNN report said the U.S. has gathered intelligence based on Israeli military movements, internal discussions, and completed air exercises. Some U.S. officials see these actions as part of a pressure campaign on nuclear talks, while others view them as signs of a real operational plan.
A source familiar with the intelligence said the likelihood of a strike has risen “significantly in recent months,” especially if a deal fails to remove Iran’s uranium stockpile. Despite this, Israeli leadership has not made a final decision, and there is disagreement within the U.S. government about whether an attack will occur.
Trump’s Pressure
Trump has warned that his offer of diplomacy with Iran will not remain on the table indefinitely, threatening “maximum pressure,” including driving Iranian oil exports to zero, if talks fail. U.S. officials have emphasized that a complete halt to uranium enrichment is a non-negotiable demand, with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff calling it a red line due to concerns over potential weaponization. Iranian leaders have rejected the demand, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling it “excessive and outrageous,” and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying that enrichment is a sovereign right.
Nuclear Talks
Since April, Iran and the U.S. have participated in four rounds of negotiations mediated by Oman—the highest-level engagement since Trump exited the 2015 nuclear deal. Their last meeting on May 11 was described by Iran as “difficult but useful,” while a U.S. official said the administration was “encouraged.”Araghchi recently told reporters that Oman will officially announce the time and place of the fifth Iran-U.S. talks soon.
What People Are Saying
Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft told Newsweek: “I don’t believe we are very close (to a deal). The American proposal contains some interesting ideas, but I find it very unlikely that Tehran will agree to freeze enrichment at all levels. The cost of restarting enrichment – even if the U.S. violates the deal and causes its collapse – is so high that the proposal gives me very little confidence.”
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said: “We cannot allow even one percent of an enrichment capability… Everything begins from our standpoint with a deal that does not include enrichment.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, wrote on X: “Enrichment in Iran, however, will continue with or without a deal.”
What Happens Next
A new round of U.S.-Iran talks in the works, but officials acknowledge that the timeline for diplomacy is short—and the consequences of failure could be immediate and severe.
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