Donald Trump and Speculation Over Military Strike on Natanz Nuclear Facility
Trump, two months before the end of his tenure, examined the possibility of attacking one of Iran’s nuclear facilities. Benjamin Netanyahu also discussed such a matter following the announcement of the U.S. presidential election results.
The New York Times has reported that Donald Trump considered a military strike on one of Iran’s nuclear facilities. The newspaper announced in its report that the current U.S. president examined such an option two months before handing over the White House to Joe Biden.
France’s news agency reported on Tuesday, November 17 (Aban 27) from Washington about a Thursday meeting (November 12) at the White House.
The New York Times stated in its report that Trump, in the presence of several senior U.S. political and military officials, raised the topic of attacking one of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
It is said that Mike Pence, Trump’s vice president, and Mike Pompeo, the country’s secretary of state, were also present at this meeting. In addition to them, General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces, was also consulted by Trump.
Attack on Natanz
During this meeting, Trump asked about the possibility of carrying out a military strike on Iran’s main nuclear facilities within the coming weeks. Trump raised this option by referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s report on Iran’s increased stockpile of enriched uranium.
According to the agency’s report, Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile is currently 12 times more than what was envisioned in the nuclear agreement.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, also raised such a matter following the announcement of the U.S. election results.
It is said that those present at the meeting opposed carrying out such a strike and warned about the uncontrollable scope of such action.
The New York Times suggested in its report that the target of such a strike could have been the Natanz nuclear facility.
It should be noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran, in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, gradually reduced its compliance with the commitments and obligations stipulated in the JCPOA.
Three countries—Germany, France, and Britain—despite the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, attempted to save it. The leaders of these three countries are now hopeful, in coordination with China and Russia, that with a change in U.S. leadership, conditions for a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear crisis will be created.
It should be noted that the Trump administration, in the final weeks of its tenure, intensified sanctions against Iran. There is talk of a “sanctions wall.” The Trump administration’s effort is aimed at making it difficult for the next U.S. administration to lift the envisioned sanctions.
Source: DW
