Israel-Iran war: Donald Trump may consider joining Israel in striking Iranian nuclear sites; report claims growing US involvement
US President Donald Trump is weighing the possibility of US involvement in Israel's ongoing strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, multiple officials familiar with the matter told CBS News.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One early Tuesday, Trump made his stance clear. 'I'm not too much in the mood to negotiate with Iran,' he said, adding that his goal is a permanent solution: 'an end, a real end, not a ceasefire.'
Later, on Truth Social, Trump doubled down, calling for Iran's 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' and stating that the US knows 'exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.'
US defence officials had made arrangements anticipating Trump's potential directive for the US Air Force to support Israeli fighter aircraft with refuelling during their operations over Iran, two sources told CNN.
These sources indicated that this consideration partly explains why more than 30 aerial refuelling tankers have been deployed to the region in recent days.
Refueling Israeli jets midair would be one of the least aggressive forms of support.
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Still, CENTCOM has presented Trump with the possibility of joint US-Israel strikes on nuclear facilities.
Vice President JD Vance echoed the urgency, posting on X that Trump 'may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment. That decision ultimately belongs to the president.'
Trump met with his national security team in the White House Situation Room on Tuesday. Israeli officials, who have been urging US involvement, expressed optimism but said no formal decision from the US had been conveyed yet.
While Trump had previously avoided direct military involvement beyond missile defense and intelligence sharing, his recent statements — including 'we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran' — suggest a shift.
'Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn't compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured 'stuff.' Nobody does it better than the good ol' USA,' he wrote on Truth Social.
After Israel launched strikes on Iran early Friday, it claimed Iran was rapidly advancing toward building nuclear weapons.
However, a US intelligence report earlier this year said Iran was not pursuing a nuclear bomb, though mounting pressure may be pushing the regime to restart its nuclear program.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported that Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium in recent months.
Iran continues to insist its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
While President Trump has not confirmed direct US involvement, his recent posts on Truth Social have stirred speculation. Trump's increasingly aggressive tone and use of the term 'we' in reference to military actions have raised questions about the extent of American involvement.
And one of the key targets being considered is Iran's Fordo nuclear site, a heavily fortified uranium enrichment facility buried deep under a mountain.
According to Brett McGurk, a former US official who served under four presidents, 'Fordo is the crux of this thing.' Destroying it would deal a major blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions, but only the US has the firepower to make that happen.
Military experts agree that multiple precision strikes by American B-2 bombers would be needed in a carefully coordinated mission. The New York Times reports that the Pentagon has rehearsed this scenario, which involves dropping a series of bombs "down the same hole" to penetrate Fordo's deep underground structure.
Fordo is located nearly 300 feet beneath a mountain and protected by heavy air defenses. It is widely believed to be Iran's most likely site for developing nuclear weapons, as it is where Iran has enriched uranium and expanded its stockpile.
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