US to support Israel if Iran attacks

The US will support a possible Israeli attack on Iran if talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran's missile program fail - US President Donald Trump assured Netanyahu last December. At the same time, Washington is strengthening its military presence in the Middle East in addition to diplomatic activities.

Turkish news agency Anadolu says that President Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a meeting last December that Washington would support an Israeli attack on Iran's ballistic missile program if talks with Tehran break down. Multiple US media outlets reported this information on Sunday.

According to a report by US media outlet CBS News, the focus of discussions in Washington is no longer limited to the question of whether Israel can carry out an attack. Rather, emphasis is being placed on how the US can support such an operation technically and diplomatically. Multiple sources involved in the matter have said this.

Key aspects of the proposed cooperation include providing Israeli warplanes with air refueling capabilities to extend their range and helping to navigate the complex diplomatic process of securing permission to use the airspace of neighboring sovereign states. However, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have made it clear that they will not allow their airspace to be used to attack Iran.

Meanwhile, the report comes at a time when Washington is significantly increasing its military presence in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has already been deployed. There are also plans to send the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier to the region.

Meanwhile, the second round of talks between Iranian and US delegations is scheduled to take place in Geneva on Tuesday. Representatives from Oman will play the role of mediator there.