Israel Weighs Imminent Strike on Iran Without U.S. Backing Amid Stalled Nuclear Talks

JERUSALEM – Israel is actively considering launching a military strike on Iran within days—even without U.S. support—according to five sources cited by NBC News. The move comes as the Trump administration engages in advanced negotiations with Tehran over a new nuclear agreement that reportedly includes uranium enrichment provisions Israel finds unacceptable.

Senior Israeli officials, including Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad Director David Barnea, are preparing for critical talks with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, but sources say Israel is no longer waiting on Washington’s green light.

“The closer the U.S. gets to a deal, the more likely Israel is to act alone,” one source familiar with Israeli military planning said.

U.S. officials are bracing for potential fallout. The Pentagon has ordered the voluntary departure of military families from several CENTCOM bases, and U.S. embassies across the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe have been instructed to assess risks posed by Iranian retaliatory capabilities, including missile and drone strikes.

CENTCOM Commander Gen. Erik Kurilla canceled planned testimony before Congress Thursday, reportedly due to real-time developments.

The White House has not yet briefed senior lawmakers, adding to speculation that the administration may be deliberately maintaining distance. While past Israeli strikes relied heavily on U.S. intelligence and refueling support, officials now say there are no signs of American operational involvement—direct or indirect.

Tensions have spiked in recent days following Iran’s announcement of large-scale military exercises and its vow to respond to any Israeli aggression. Tehran has reportedly approved a contingency plan to fire hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israeli targets in the event of a strike, according to The New York Times.

Behind the scenes, Israeli officials are said to be concerned about a narrowing window of opportunity. Although a successful Israeli operation in October reportedly disabled much of Iran’s air defense infrastructure—including components of its Russian-made S-300 systems—Tehran has since repaired and upgraded many of those defenses, complicating the possibility of a manned strike.

Michael Knights of the Washington Institute noted that the U.S. evacuation of non-essential embassy staff in Iraq was designed to send a message: while the U.S. is not directly participating, Trump is unlikely to obstruct Israeli action. “This is about deterrence—both toward Iran and reassurance to allies,” he said.

President Trump, meanwhile, has publicly expressed frustration with Iran’s hardened negotiating stance. “They want to enrich [uranium]. We cannot allow enrichment,” he told reporters, adding that Iran had failed to meet his deadline for a new agreement.

With Iran dug in and Israel preparing for possible unilateral action, the region is teetering on the edge of a wider conflict that could erupt at any moment.