KEY POINTS
- Senior US and Israeli officials reportedly discussing potential major military action
- Options could extend beyond limited strikes to a broader campaign
- Developments unfold despite ongoing indirect nuclear talks
ISLAMABAD: The United States and Israel are engaged in advanced discussions about possible military action against Iran if diplomatic efforts fail, according to a report published by the US news website Axios.
Citing sources familiar with high-level deliberations, the report said officials in Washington and Israel have examined options that go beyond limited strikes and could involve a broader campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and other strategic facilities.
Sources, cited by Axios, described the diplomatic window as narrowing and characterised the planning as serious, though no final decision has been announced.
According to the report, US officials have been reviewing military readiness in the region and coordinating closely with Israeli counterparts amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities.
The report comes at a sensitive moment in diplomacy. Iran and the United States held indirect talks, aimed at addressing disputes over Tehran’s nuclear programme, with Iranian officials describing the discussions as constructive in a post-talks press briefing.
Iran’s foreign minister also held a telephone conversation with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency to discuss cooperation and inspection-related matters following the negotiations.
Analysts say reports of military contingency planning can serve multiple purposes, including signalling resolve and increasing leverage at the negotiating table.
Iran has repeatedly warned that any direct military strike would prompt retaliation, raising concerns about the risk of broader regional escalation in the Middle East.
