Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Information Minister in Pakistani-administered Kashmir: Five civilians killed and at least 29 others injured in shelling across the border with India
Israeli Army Radio's diplomatic correspondent quoted a senior Israeli official as saying: So he [Trump] decided to cut off contact. That might still change, but that’s the situation right now
Israeli Army Radio's diplomatic correspondent quoted a senior Israeli official as saying: Trump’s circle told him [Dermer] that Netanyahu was manipulating him, and there’s nothing Trump hates more than being portrayed as someone being played
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: Meetings between the Israelis, Egyptians, and Qataris are all centered around the Israeli proposal, which does not guarantee an end to the war [on Gaza]
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: “Israel” is threatening to expand the ground offensive if Hamas rejects the proposal
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: Hamas rejects the Israeli proposal, viewing it as failing to guarantee an end to the war
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: “Israel” is sticking to its proposal, and insists there is no alternative offer on the table for negotiation
Senior Palestinian official to Al Mayadeen: The meetings between the Israelis and the Egyptians and Qataris all revolve around the Israeli proposal
The administration was clearly looking for an off-ramp for this campaign against Ansar Allah, NBC News reports, citing US official
Trump's operation against Ansar Allah cost more than $1 billion, NBC News reports, citing US official

Biden discussed plans to strike Iran nuclear sites: Axios

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Axios
  • 2 Jan 2025 23:45
  • 4 Shares
3 Min Read

Sources told Axios that some of Biden's aides, including Sullivan, believe that the alleged degradation of Iran's air defenses and missile capabilities by "Israel" gave Biden an opportunity to strike.

Listen
  • x
  • Biden discussed plans to strike Iran nuclear sites: Axios
    President Joe Biden adjusts his mic during a meeting in the State Dining Room of the White House on April 4, 2023. (AP)

Three sources divulged to Axios that White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan presented US President Biden with options for a potential US strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, should Iran develop a nuclear weapon before Donald Trump takes office. 

Biden and his national security team recently discussed various options regarding Iran's nuclear program, but no final decision was made. The meeting, held about a month ago, was not prompted by new intelligence but rather as part of "prudent scenario planning" for potential US responses if Iran escalates its nuclear activities.

Some of Biden's closest advisors have argued privately that the acceleration of Iran's nuclear program and the war that the Axis of Resistance had endured provided Biden with both a need and a chance to attack.

Sources told Axios that some of Biden's aides, including Sullivan, believe that the degradation of Iran's air defenses and missile capabilities, as well as significantly weakening allies would increase the chances of a successful strike while lowering the risk of Iranian retaliation and regional escalation.

On the threshold? 

Related News

Trump, Netanyahu aide held meeting before MidEast trip: Axios

US won't meddle in India-Pakistan conflict: JD Vance

One source divulged that Biden focused on the subject of urgency, namely whether Iran had taken actions that justified a massive military assault only weeks before a new president enters office.

At a conference in New York two weeks ago Sullivan asserted that by observing statements of Iranian officials in recent months, the US should wonder whether to change its doctrine.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has enough 60%-enriched uranium to build four nuclear weapons but if it decides to do so, it will need to create a nuclear explosive device or warhead. Israeli intelligence says it will take at least a year.

However, US and Israeli officials allege that over the last year, Iranian scientists have conducted "suspicious" nuclear weaponization research, including computer modeling and metallurgy, that appears to be aimed at reducing the time required to develop a nuclear device.

Last Spring, the Biden administration confidentially expressed severe worries about Iranian nuclear research and development operations, according to US and Israeli sources.

Sullivan stated last month that the Biden administration updated President-elect Trump's team on the intelligence picture around Iran's nuclear program and revealed that although Trump's administration may have a different strategy, "I want to make sure we are starting from a common base of what we are facing with respect to the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program."

Last month, Dr. Kamal Kharrazi, the head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, discussed pivotal regional issues with Al Mayadeen, including the possible change to Iran's nuclear doctrine.

Questioned about his earlier statements to Al Mayadeen where he warned Iran might reassess its nuclear doctrine and whether "the time has come" to do so with Trump's inauguration looming on the horizon, he stressed that Iran opposed nuclear weapons but hinted at potential countermeasures. "If they take steps against us, it's natural for us to respond with proportional measures at the appropriate time," he said, leaving the door open for strategic recalibration.

  • United States
  • Tehran
  • Israel
  • JCPOA
  • Joe Biden
  • Iran
  • Iran nuclear program

Most Read

Pro-Palestinian protesters march toward the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Washington (AP)

US House to vote on bill criminalizing boycott of 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 3 May 2025
Throughout Operation Prosperity Guardian, current and former US military and intelligence officials expressed disquiet at the enormous “cost offset” involved in battling Ansar Allah. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab El-Hajj)

Ansar Allah triumphant: US facing Red Sea defeat again

  • Opinion
  • 3 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • Today

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
UN experts warn: Stop the genocide or witness Gaza's end
Politics

Stop the genocide or witness end of life in Gaza: UN experts warn

Israeli police attack mourners as they carry the casket of killed Al Jazeera veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during her funeral in occupied al-Quds, Friday, May 13, 2022. (AP)
Politics

Israeli sniper who killed journalist Shireen Abu Akleh identified

The Department of Defense logo is seen on the wall in the Press Briefing room at the Pentagon, Oct. 29, 2024, in Washington. (AP)
Politics

Pentagon’s unused properties drain billions in taxpayer funds

Haaretz
Palestine

Israeli military avoids calling up unwilling reservists: Haaretz

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS