Israel said to expect US backing for future strikes if Iran revives nuclear program

Israel anticipates the United States will permit it to launch new strikes on Iran, in the event that the Islamic Republic attempts to restart its nuclear program following last month’s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Channel 12 news reports.

Ahead of a meeting this evening between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, the Hebrew-language network reports that “one of the understandings emerging in Israel in recent days is that the Trump administration will give a green light to Israel for additional strikes in Iran on its nuclear facilities if circumstances arise that would justify doing so.”

According to the report, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer came away from meetings last week with US Vice President JD Vance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff with the impression that Washington would support fresh Israeli strikes “if Iran were, for example, to attempt to remove the 400 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium currently buried in its nuclear facilities, or to revive the program in general.”

Trump expressed public anger at Israel last month when it looked like Jerusalem would strike Iran in retaliation for a missile strike after the sides agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire.

Channel 12 adds that since returning from Washington, Dermer has emphasized the US continues to demand from Iran “zero enrichment” of uranium on its soil. Iran has insisted that it will continue enrichment, but also has expressed a willingness to engage in talks with the US on the issue.

Dermer declined to comment on the report, the network says.