Published: 16:53, May 21, 2025
CNN: US intelligence reveals Israel preparing strike on Iran's nuclear facilities
By Xinhua

This handout picture released by the Israeli army on October 26, 2024, shows an Israeli fighter jet departing a hangar at an undisclosed location in Israel. (PHOTO / AFP)

WASHINGTON - US-gathered intelligence suggests that Israel is preparing to strike Iran's nuclear program, CNN has reported, citing multiple US officials.

The report on Tuesday also cited US sources as saying that it was unclear whether Israel had made a final decision to carry out the strikes, and that within the US government, there was disagreement about whether the Israeli side would ultimately decide to conduct the strikes.

The likelihood of an Israeli strike on an Iranian nuclear facility "has gone up significantly in recent months," the CNN report quoted a source familiar with the intelligence as saying. The source said that the odds would be higher if the United States reached a deal with Iran that did not remove all of the country's uranium.

ALSO READ: 2 Iranian soldiers killed as Israel strikes targets in Iran

US President Donald Trump's administration has been negotiating with Iran for a diplomatic deal on its nuclear program. Earlier on Tuesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described US demands on Iran's uranium enrichment as "excessive and outrageous," voicing doubt over the talks' prospect.