Biden Discussed Potential Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Facilities Before January 20, No Decision Made

Jan 2, 2025, 08:30 PM

President Joe Biden discussed potential military options for striking Iran's nuclear facilities if Tehran advances toward a nuclear weapon before January 20, according to Axios, citing three sources. The discussions took place in a meeting about a month ago, led by White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. The meeting was part of 'prudent scenario planning' and did not result in any immediate decision for a strike. Sullivan presented various options and scenarios, but Biden did not authorize any military action. The discussions were not prompted by new intelligence, and there are currently no active discussions within the White House about military action against Iran's nuclear facilities. Some of Biden's top aides believe that the acceleration of Iran's nuclear program and the weakening of Iran and its proxies in their conflict with Israel provide both a justification and an opportunity for a strike. However, Sullivan did not make any recommendations to Biden, focusing instead on scenario planning.