Report – Trump doesn’t want to be dragged into a prolonged war in the Middle East

Via Axios (US politics website):

• Trump wants to make sure such an attack on Iran is really needed
• Wants to be sure it wouldn’t drag the US into a prolonged war in the Middle East
• Wants to be sure that the attack would achieve the objective of destroying Iran’s nuclear program

More:

• Consideration is begin given to a commando raid. Israeli special forces conducted such an operation last September, albeit on a smaller scale, when they destroyed an underground missile factory in Syria by planting and detonating explosives.
• Now that Israel has full control of Iran’s air space and has dealt a heavy blow to Iran’s military, that option appears less extreme than it otherwise would.
• A US official said the Israelis told the Trump administration that while they may not be able to reach deep enough into the mountain with bombs, they may “do it with humans.”

Meanwhile, other reports (in brief):

• U.S. military has moved some assets from bases in the Middle East that may be vulnerable to any potential Iranian attack, two officials tell Reuters

Earlier:

Trump is getting comfortable with the idea of striking Iran’s Fordow underground nuclear site, ABC News reported citing a source familiar with the intelligence.

There is now a movement to get ready for this, according to the source.

It would not be just one strike on the facility, it would be several, the source was quoted as saying.

The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP) is an underground Iranian nuclear facility near the city of Qom:

• Built in secret, it was revealed publicly by Western intelligence in 2009.

• Located inside a heavily fortified mountain to protect against airstrikes.

• Originally designed to enrich uranium up to 20%, which is close to weapons-grade.

• Under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), Iran agreed not to enrich uranium at Fordow, but resumed enrichment after the U.S. withdrew from the deal in 2018.

• Concerns remain over its potential military use due to its structure and enrichment capabilities.

It’s one of the most sensitive and closely monitored nuclear sites in Iran.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.