Trump Considers Joining Israel in Strikes on Iran Nuclear Sites

President Donald Trump is actively considering joining Israeli military strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to multiple senior U.S. officials, marking a potential escalation in the six-day conflict that has already claimed hundreds of lives. The deliberation centers on targeting Fordo—a critical uranium enrichment site buried 300 feet beneath a mountain—which requires specialized U.S. “bunker buster” munitions unavailable to Israel. This development follows Trump’s abrupt departure from the G7 summit and his public demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” which Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected Wednesday with a warning of “irreparable damage” should Washington intervene.

The Fordo Dilemma

Trump’s national security team debated options in a high-stakes Situation Room meeting Tuesday, with advisors deeply divided about direct military involvement. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly emphasized the strategic necessity of destroying Fordo, while Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard cautioned about intelligence assessments showing Iran wasn’t actively building nuclear weapons. The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)—a 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bomb requiring B-52 or B-2 bombers for delivery—stands as the only U.S. weapon capable of penetrating Fordo’s 260-foot-deep fortified structure.

Trump’s deliberations occur against his contradictory public statements. After initially claiming on Saturday that “we can easily get a deal done,” he shifted to bellicose rhetoric by Tuesday, declaring “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” on Truth Social while revealing U.S. knowledge of Khamenei’s location: “He is an easy target but is safe there—We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reportedly proposed assassinating Khamenei over the weekend, but Trump rejected the plan fearing regional destabilization.

Iran’s Defiance and Warning

Khamenei responded to Trump’s surrender demand in a televised statement Wednesday, asserting: “Intelligent people who know Iran, its people, and history will never speak to this nation in threatening language”. The Supreme Leader issued a stark warning about U.S. intervention: “Americans should know that any military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage”. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei amplified the threat, telling Al Jazeera that American involvement risked “all-out war in the region with very bad consequences for the international community”.

Tehran’s streets displayed the conflict’s human impact, with video showing thousands of vehicles gridlocked on exit routes as residents heeded Trump’s Monday evacuation warning. Local reports described a “post-apocalyptic” atmosphere with closed supermarkets and banks, though many lacked resources to leave. Iran’s Health Ministry ceased updating casualty figures after reporting 220 deaths over the weekend, though the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists in Iran documented at least 452 fatalities—including 224 civilians and 109 military personnel.

Nuclear Infrastructure Under Fire

Israel intensified strikes against Iran’s nuclear program overnight Tuesday with over 50 fighter jets hitting approximately 20 targets, including centrifuge production facilities at the Tehran Research Center and TESA Karaj complex. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed damage to both sites, noting they “were previously under IAEA monitoring and verification as part of the JCPOA”—the nuclear deal Trump abandoned in 2018. Despite these strikes, Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s atomic energy organization, insisted nuclear facilities were “doing fine” with workers’ spirits “high and standing strong”.

Military Developments and Preparations

The U.S. military has deployed at least 30 aircraft—mostly KC-135 Stratotankers—from American bases to Europe in what analysts interpret as preparation for Middle Eastern combat operations. Flight tracking data showed seven tankers diverting to bases in Spain, Scotland, and England, enabling extended bombing sorties. Justin Bronk of London’s RUSI think tank noted these deployments were “highly suggestive” of contingency plans to “support intensive combat operations”.

Iran retaliated against recent strikes with Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles targeting Tel Aviv—a technological escalation challenging Israel’s air defenses. While most were intercepted, one missile killed 90-year-old Bella Ashkinaze in her apartment near Tel Aviv, bringing Israel’s civilian death toll to 24. The IDF advised citizens to remain near shelters, and the U.S. embassy closed until at least Saturday.

Global Repercussions

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz framed Israel’s campaign as doing “dirty work for all of us,” telling ZDF: “We are also affected by this regime… I have the greatest respect for the Israeli government having the courage to do this”. Meanwhile, Netanyahu predicted the offensive could trigger Iran’s governmental collapse: “It’s impossible to predict, but it could be the result of our mighty action… We are changing the face of the Middle East”.

Diplomatic fallout intensified as Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar justified strikes to the UN Security Council, citing Iran’s “strategic plan to eliminate Israel” and proxy networks creating a “ring of fire” around the nation. Concurrently, U.S. lawmakers expressed constitutional concerns, with some noting Trump’s decision would lack congressional war authorization. Vice President JD Vance reinforced executive authority on X: “Trump may decide he needs further action… That decision ultimately belongs to the president”.

Conclusion

Trump’s potential intervention in Israel’s strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities represents the most dangerous escalation point in the six-day conflict, with Fordo’s destruction carrying high risks of regional war. Khamenei’s “irreparable damage” warning signals asymmetric retaliation against U.S. interests should bunker-buster bombs strike the fortified enrichment site. With Tehran’s streets emptying, civilian casualties mounting, and specialized U.S. bombers deploying toward theater, the crisis approaches a decisive juncture. The coming 48 hours will determine whether Washington transforms from behind-the-scenes supporter to active combatant—a move that could either neutralize Iran’s nuclear ambitions or ignite the Middle Eastern conflagration all sides claim to prevent.

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