Is the US Preparing to Join Israel in a Military Strike Against Iran?

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on June 18, 2025, vowed, “The Iranian nation will never surrender to any form of imposition,” warning that US intervention would bring “irreparable damage” and retaliation against American bases and assets in the region. 

Iran’s aggression against the West, America, and Israel spans 45 years, leaving no doubt it would wield a nuclear weapon if acquired. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran’s leaders have branded America the “Great Satan,” with state-sponsored “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” chants occurring routinely at public rallies. Iran’s proxy terror groups—Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis—have attacked Israeli civilians and US interests for decades. 

Iran’s hostility has intensified recently. In October 2024, the FBI uncovered an Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump, involving operatives targeting him on US soil. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has armed proxies attacking Israeli cities and US bases, with over 150 strikes on American forces in Iraq and Syria since 2020. Experts like Michael Doran of the Hudson Institute warn, “Iran’s ideology and actions show it would not hesitate to use a nuclear weapon against Israel or the US if it had the capability.” 

The Pentagon is repositioning forces, seemingly to align with Israel’s campaign. Over the past week, approximately 36 KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft have been deployed to European bases, including Spain and Scotland, capable of supporting long-range airstrikes. These could refuel Israeli and American jets or US B-2 bombers, which are the only planes that can effectively target Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility, using American 30,000-pound GBU-57/B bunker-buster bombs. The USS Nimitz carrier strike group has joined other US naval assets in the Gulf, bolstering protection for Israeli operations and laying the groundwork for a potential US assault against Iran. 

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on June 18, 2025, stated, “We have plans for every detail,” signaling preparedness. While emphasizing protection for the 40,000 US troops in the region, Hegseth’s remarks, alongside fresh deployments to the region, suggest a plan of intensive combat operations is underway. The US has begun evacuating non-essential diplomats from Israel, with Ambassador Mike Huckabee announcing on June 18 that departures are in progress via flights and ships. 

Israeli officials are confident in US involvement, particularly for the goal of dismantling Fordow. A senior Israeli source saying, “The whole operation is premised on the fact that the US will join at some point.” Israel’s strikes have weakened Iran’s air defenses and their ability to retaliate, creating a window for US action that offers less risk to American forces. 

President Trump’s rhetoric has rallied Israel’s cause. On June 17, 2025, he posted on Truth Social, “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target but is safe there—we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” adding in a later post, “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” 

Trump’s stance seemed to solidify after a June 8, 2025, briefing from Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine on Iran’s nuclear advances, where he was shown intelligence that revealed Iran had the capacity to break out a nuclear weapon within weeks. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s June 12 report on Iran’s breaches of the non-proliferation treaty reinforced his resolve. 

Administration officials echo the president’s commitment. Hegseth, stressed the need to stop Iran’s nuclearization, a priority shared by Israel. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, despite isolationist leanings, has not contradicted Trump’s pro-Israel stance or his conviction that Iran’s nuclear program must be halted, though she previously disagreed that Iran was actively building a nuclear weapon. 

Domestically, President Trump faces a divided base on the question of whether the US should be involved in the Iran conflict, which may be part of the reason his deliberations have continued for a considerable duration. Another reason was that he had hoped Iran would come to the table and surrender their nuclear ambitions voluntarily. Vocal isolationists like Tucker Carlson are urging President Trump to completely abstain from any act of aggression against Iran, while other voices like Sen. Mitch McConnell back immediate action. Efforts by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna to require approval for strikes reflect an unease in Congress. Nonetheless, Trump’s authority in defending an ally and US interests remains broad. 

Israel’s strikes have set back Iran’s nuclear program, but Fordow requires US firepower. President Trump’s situation room meeting on June 18 suggests a decision will be announced soon. Iran’s threats to US bases and the Strait of Hormuz, through which 80% of the Gulf’s oil passes, highlight the risks not only to American assets and the region but also to the global economy. 

Iran’s history of aggression, coupled with its fierce drive to obtain nuclear weapons, calls for an answer that is both decisive and time-sensitive. There may be several options, the most likely being military, but only now can the solution be effectively applied.