The United States has obtained new intelligence indicating that Israel is actively preparing for a possible military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities — a dramatic development that could upend President Donald Trump’s high-stakes diplomatic outreach to Tehran and spark a wider conflict across the Middle East, according to a report from CNN citing multiple American officials briefed on the matter.

While officials say that Israeli leaders have not made a final decision, the likelihood of a unilateral strike has “significantly increased in recent months,” one source familiar with the intelligence told CNN.

Behind the scenes, Israeli military movements, the repositioning of air munitions, and a recent air force drill have caught the attention of American intelligence agencies. Coupled with intercepted Israeli communications, these developments are being interpreted as possible signs of imminent military action — or, at the very least, a deliberate signal to Iran and the U.S. of what could come next.

Such a move would not only be a bold defiance of Trump’s diplomatic approach, but could ignite a broader regional war — something the Trump administration has worked to avoid since the Gaza conflict reignited Middle East tensions in 2023.

“It’s a real challenge for Netanyahu,” said Jonathan Panikoff, a former senior intelligence official. “He doesn’t want to alienate Trump, but he also cannot accept a nuclear Iran — and he may view military action as the only way to stop it.”

Trump has made it clear that time is running out for diplomacy. In a letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in March, the U.S. president reportedly set a 60-day deadline for negotiations to produce results. That deadline has now passed, and while talks continue behind closed doors, progress remains elusive.

The prospect of Trump striking a nuclear deal that allows Iran even limited uranium enrichment — a key sticking point in the current talks — has alarmed Israeli officials. One Israeli source told CNN bluntly: “If the U.S. makes a deal we can’t accept, we’ll act. We don’t need a green light — just no red one.”

U.S. officials say Israel views Iran as uniquely vulnerable right now. Its economy is crippled by sanctions, its proxies across the region have suffered devastating losses in Israeli strikes, and its air defense systems remain weakened after Israeli bombing campaigns last fall.

One recent U.S. intelligence assessment suggested Israel could use either long-range missiles or military aircraft to capitalize on Iran’s degraded defenses. But even with that advantage, experts believe that a strike — while symbolic and politically powerful — would only modestly delay Iran’s nuclear progress.

Critically, Israel would still need American support to carry out any truly decisive blow, including mid-air refueling and bunker-busting munitions capable of reaching Iran’s fortified underground nuclear sites. So far, the Trump administration has shown no sign it would provide that assistance without direct provocation from Tehran.

While backchannel diplomacy continues, Iran has hardened its stance. On Tuesday, Khamenei declared that he sees little chance of talks succeeding, dismissing Washington’s demand that Iran stop enriching uranium as a “major mistake.” Iran maintains its right to enrichment under international law — and says it won’t give that up.

With talks teetering and tensions rising, the Trump administration finds itself caught between competing pressures: the desire to prevent a nuclear Iran through diplomacy, and the threat of a destabilizing Israeli strike that could drag the region — and the U.S. — into a larger war.

The Biden-era chaos in Afghanistan still haunts Washington, and officials fear another ill-timed conflict. “We want diplomacy to work — but we’re preparing in case it doesn’t,” one senior U.S. official said.

Analysts say Israel’s moves could be part bluff, part preparation — a ploy designed to shape both Iranian and American decision-making. But if diplomacy collapses, or if Trump agrees to a deal seen by Israel as a betrayal, the bluff may turn into a reality.

“Israel has never wavered in its belief that military force is the only way to stop a nuclear Iran,” one official said. “The only question is whether they think now is the time to pull the trigger.”

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