US intelligence has warned that "Israel" is likely to carry out a "preemptive strike" on Iran’s nuclear program by midyear, The Washington Post reported, citing multiple intelligence assessments.

The report, published just hours after The Wall Street Journal released similar findings, suggests that such an attack could delay Iran’s nuclear progress by weeks or months, but risks escalating tensions in the region and triggering a broader war.

According to The Washington Post, these conclusions stem from intelligence gathered during the final months of the Biden administration and the early period of the Trump administration. The White House, CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the matter. 

White House threatens

Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, reaffirmed US President Donald Trump’s earlier-stated position, stating that he "will not permit Iran to get a nuclear weapon."

While Trump prefers diplomacy, Hughes added, "he will not wait indefinitely if Iran isn’t willing to deal, and soon."

The Washington Post notes that the most detailed intelligence assessment, compiled in early January by the intelligence directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Defense Intelligence Agency, warned of a likely Israeli strike targeting Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities.

Citing current and former US officials familiar with the intelligence, The Washington Post reports that "Israel" believes its October bombing campaign—launched in response to an Iranian ballistic missile attack—significantly weakened Iran’s air defenses, leaving the country vulnerable to further strikes. However, the officials were not named in the report.

Iran warns against regional 'disaster'

Iran has previously threatened retaliation if its nuclear facilities were attacked. Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned "Israel" and the US against attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities in an interview with Sky News.

Araghchi said that any attack on Iran's nuclear facilities would be faced with an "immediate and decisive response," while expressing doubts that "Israel" and the US would follow through with this "crazy thing".

Some Israelis hoped that Trump's return to the White House earlier this month would result in US support for an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites, or even an attack carried out by the US itself.

The newly elected president signaled hopes to address Tehran's nuclear program diplomatically, rather than militarily, expressing that working things out without military force would be "really nice". 

Araghchi added that by attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities, the Middle East would turn "into a very bad disaster."

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