Axios: Israel Has Invited The U.S. To Join The War With Iran
- 15.06.2025, 10:55
To destroy a key facility in Tehran's nuclear program.
Israel has appealed to the United States to help destroy a key site of Iran's nuclear program.
It was reported by Axios.
Israel has appealed to the administration of US President Donald Trump over the past 48 hours to join the war against Iran to eliminate its nuclear program. This was reported by two Israeli officials familiar with the situation.
One of the officials told the publication that the US may join the operation. According to him, US President Donald Trump during a recent conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly expressed willingness to do so if necessary.
According to Axios, however, a White House official denied the information on Friday. On Saturday, a second U.S. official confirmed that Israel had indeed made such a request, but noted that the administration was not considering the issue now.
A senior White House official said in comments to the publication on Saturday, "What is happening today cannot be stopped," referring to Israel's attacks.
"But we can achieve a successful peaceful resolution to this conflict if Iran is willing. The fastest path to peace for Iran is for Iran to give up its nuclear weapons. The whole operation ... should really end with the elimination of Fordo," Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yehiel Leiter told Fox News.
Sources said that since the beginning of the military operation, the Israeli side has repeatedly discussed with its American counterparts the possibility of U.S. involvement in a strike on the Fordo uranium enrichment plant. According to the Israeli source, Washington is now considering a corresponding request, and Israel hopes that President Trump will agree.
Why Israel needs US help
Israel does not possess the anti-bunker munitions or heavy bombers necessary to destroy the uranium enrichment facility at Fordow, which is located deep underground in mountainous terrain. The U.S. does, however, have the relevant assets, which are within Iran's reach.
Despite this, the Trump administration has so far refrained from getting directly involved in the Israeli operation. Washington notes that any Iranian response in the form of attacks on U.S. targets would be seen as illegitimate.
A direct strike on Iranian territory, even if U.S. involvement is limited to the destruction of a single facility, would effectively mean direct involvement of the United States in the war.
Israel would consider Iran's nuclear program destroyed only if the Fordow facility is completely destroyed.
The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant is an Iranian underground uranium enrichment facility located 32 km northeast of the Iranian city of Qom, near the village of Fordow, on a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps base.
The facility is under the control of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. It is Iran's second uranium enrichment facility, the previous one being at Natanz.