Israel Pressures US for Strike on Iran’s Fordo Nuclear Facility – ‘Won’t Wait Two Weeks’

Israeli officials have conveyed to the Donald Trump administration that they are unwilling to wait two weeks for an agreement to dismantle key parts of Iran’s nuclear program. Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Israel communicated its concerns in a tense phone call with U.S. officials on Thursday. Israeli officials stated they cannot wait the two weeks presented by President Trump as a deadline for the U.S. to decide on involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict. Participants from Israel included Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and military chief Eyal Zamir. Israel believes it has a limited window of opportunity to act against the deeply buried Fordo facility, the crown jewel of Iran’s nuclear program. The United States is the only country with bombs capable of penetrating the facility, which is buried inside a mountain. A Washington source knowledgeable about the matter said Israel feels Trump’s two-week margin is too long and more urgent action is required. During the call, Vice President Mike Pence reportedly responded that the U.S. should not get directly involved, hinting that Israel might drag the country into war. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also participated in the call, according to a security source. Publicly, Netanyahu has not ruled out the possibility of Israel launching a solo strike on Fordo, though officials have not provided details on how this would be achieved. Four sources indicate it is increasingly likely Israel will initiate a unilateral military operation. Israel’s air superiority over much of Iran makes such an operation more feasible, though still dangerous. With time running out due to the cost of war, Israel may not wait much longer. It remains unclear whether such an operation would involve airstrikes, ground forces, or both. Two sources suggest Israel might aim to cause significant damage to the facility rather than destroy it entirely, potentially focusing on internal components instead of the entire site.