Reports indicate the White House considered potential US military action against Iran before President-elect Trump’s inauguration.
Axios reports that President Biden recently convened a high-level meeting to explore potential US military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
These discussions, sources say, were part of contingency planning in case Iran advances its nuclear program before Biden leaves office.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan presented options to Biden, but no military action has been authorized, and no active planning for strikes is currently underway, according to sources.
An anonymous US official stated the meeting wasn’t prompted by new intelligence, but was a review of potential scenarios if Iran enriched uranium to weapons-grade levels.
Biden’s advisors debated whether the Middle East situation warranted intervention, considering whether it presented both an imperative and an opportunity for military action, Axios reported. While some advocated a preemptive strike while Iranian defenses and regional influence are weakened, no recommendation for action was made, according to a US official.
Israel reportedly believes Iran’s regional influence is diminished following events in Syria, potentially leading Iran to accelerate its nuclear program and creating an opening for an Israeli preemptive strike, according to the Times of Israel.
On Thursday, Iran reiterated its commitment to peaceful nuclear energy and its willingness to negotiate, provided it’s treated with respect, according to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Iran’s top diplomat warned that sanctions, particularly the “maximum pressure” policy of the Trump administration, are ineffective.
“Increased sanctions and pressure will only strengthen Iranian resistance,” Araghchi stated, urging Western nations to engage respectfully. “Respectful negotiations will be met with reciprocal respect.”
Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, asserting its nuclear program is for civilian purposes. In 2015, Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with world powers, limiting its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
Following the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 under President Trump, Iran has expanded its enrichment capabilities, and efforts to revive the deal have stalled. Last month, IAEA head Rafael Grossi reported Iran’s uranium enrichment is dramatically accelerating to 60% purity, a development he called “very concerning.”