US President Donald Trump privately told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would back Israeli strikes on Iran if diplomatic efforts failed to reach an agreement. The message was delivered during their December meeting in Florida and reflected Washington’s growing readiness to consider military options.
Meanwhile, senior officials within the US military and intelligence community have begun internal discussions on how the United States could assist Israel in such a scenario. These talks reportedly include the possibility of providing aerial refuelling for Israeli aircraft and arranging safe overflight routes, although no final decisions have been taken so far.
Read more : Europe aims to rely less on US defence after Trump’s Greenland push
However, securing regional cooperation remains highly uncertain, as countries like Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have publicly rejected allowing their airspace to be used for any military strikes on Iran. This reluctance highlights the diplomatic hurdles that could complicate any joint military operation in the region.
At the same time, Washington has increased its military presence in the Middle East by deploying a second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to reinforce existing forces. The move places significant firepower within range of Iran and signals a stronger posture amid rising tensions and stalled negotiations.
Read more : US military preparing for potentially weeks-long Iran operations
Despite this show of force, the Trump administration continues to pursue talks with Tehran over its nuclear programme, while Netanyahu remains sceptical of diplomacy. He insists any future agreement must also limit Iran’s ballistic missiles and regional influence, expanding the scope beyond nuclear restrictions.
Iranian officials have expressed conditional willingness to reduce uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief, but no formal agreement has yet emerged. With a second round of talks scheduled in Geneva, both sides appear to be balancing diplomacy with military pressure, keeping the risk of escalation very real.