Donald Trump and speculation about a military attack on the Natanz nuclear facility

Trump has been considering attacking one of Iran's nuclear facilities for two months before the end of his term, a topic that Benjamin Netanyahu had also raised after the results of the US presidential election were announced.

The news that Donald Trump is considering a military attack on one of Iran's nuclear facilities has been published by the New York Times. The newspaper published a report stating that the current US president had considered such a possibility two months before handing over the White House to Joe Biden.

On Tuesday, November 17, Agence France-Presse published a report from Washington, referring to the meeting at the White House on Thursday (November 12).

The New York Times reported that Trump raised the issue of attacking one of Iran's nuclear facilities in the presence of a number of senior US political and military officials.

Trump's Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are also said to have attended the meeting. In addition, General Mark Milley, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, was also consulted by Trump.

Attack on Natanz

Trump had asked about the possibility of a military strike on Iran's main nuclear facilities in the coming weeks, citing a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran has increased its stockpile of enriched uranium.

According to the IAEA report, Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles are currently 12 times higher than the amount foreseen in the nuclear deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also raised a similar issue after the US election results were released.

It is said that those present at the meeting opposed such an attack and warned against the uncontrolled dimensions of such an action.

The New York Times reported that the target of such an attack could have been the Natanz nuclear facility.

It should be noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran, in response to the US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, has gradually reduced the commitments and obligations foreseen in the JCPOA.

Germany, France, and the United Kingdom have been trying to save the nuclear deal despite the US withdrawal. The leaders of these three countries are now working with China and Russia to hope that a shift in US leadership will pave the way for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis.

It should be noted that the Trump administration has been tightening sanctions against Iran in the last weeks of its rule. There is talk of a “wall of sanctions.” The Trump administration’s efforts are aimed at making it difficult for the future US administration to lift the sanctions it has planned.

Source: DW