Axios: Biden reviewed options for striking Iran’s nuclear sites
A classified White House meeting explored military options for addressing Iran's nuclear program progress, sources disclose.
US President Biden evaluated options for potential military strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities during a secret White House meeting several weeks ago, three sources with knowledge of the issue told Axios.
Axios says National security adviser Jake Sullivan presented various scenarios for responding if Iran moves toward nuclear weapons capability before 20 January, when Trump assumes office. According to a US official familiar with the issue, the meeting focused on “prudent scenario planning” rather than immediate action.
The sources said Biden did not approve any strikes during the meeting. Another source indicated there are currently no active discussions about military action against Iranian facilities.
Some of Biden’s top aides, including Sullivan, argued that Iran’s weakened air defenses and degraded missile capabilities, combined with its accelerating nuclear program, present both an imperative and opportunity for action. The White House declined to comment on the matter.
During the meeting, Biden focused on questions of urgency and whether Iran’s actions warranted a major military strike weeks before the transition, one source said.
US and Israeli officials report detecting suspicious nuclear research activities in recent months, including computer modeling and metallurgy work that could accelerate weapons development.
Related:
- AP: US prepares $ 1.25 billion military package for Ukraine before transition
- Russia, Iran to cement alliance with strategic partnership deal before Trump’s inauguration
- Majority of Ukrainians support nuclear weapons restoration, new poll shows
- NATO chief warns Trump: forced Ukraine peace deal could embolden China, Iran, and North Korea
- Russians retreat from Hama and Homs amid Syrian opposition offensive, Ukrainian intel says
- Shahed drones scatter delayed-action grenades across Ukraine
- Zaluzhnyi: World War III started in 2024
- North Korea seeks Russian nuclear tech in exchange for troops in Ukraine, says Ukrainian minister
- Russia’s Ukraine invasion endangers global order, warns NATO chief
You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.
We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society.
A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support.
