Israel is weighing the possibility of launching a unilateral military strike on Iran in the coming days, potentially without U.S. support, even as the Trump administration pursues advanced negotiations with Tehran over a new framework to limit Iran’s nuclear activities, according to a report by NBC News citing five sources familiar with the situation.

U.S. officials have been told Israel is fully ready to launch an operation into Iran, multiple sources also told CBS News. 

The reported considerations mark a significant escalation and come at a critical juncture in U.S.-Iran diplomacy. Israeli officials are increasingly alarmed by the direction of nuclear negotiations, particularly elements of a potential deal that would allow continued uranium enrichment—terms Israeli leadership views as unacceptable.

A decision by Israel to act alone would represent a sharp break from the Trump administration’s position. The White House has consistently argued against unilateral military action, favoring diplomatic channels to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. President Donald Trump has expressed mounting frustration with Iran’s stance in recent indirect talks, calling the country’s demands unreasonable.

“They’re just asking for things that you can’t do. They don’t want to give up what they have to give up,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “They seek enrichment. We can’t have enrichment.”

Despite the ongoing negotiations, senior U.S. officials have not ruled out the possibility of Israeli action. According to multiple sources cited by NBC News and CBS News, Israel appears fully prepared to conduct strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, and U.S. agencies are bracing for potential fallout, including retaliatory attacks on American personnel and infrastructure in the region.

In anticipation of such a scenario, the Trump administration has instructed U.S. embassies within range of Iranian missiles, aircraft, or proxy groups—including in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Eastern Europe—to submit risk assessments and security mitigation strategies, two sources told NBC News.

Meanwhile, the State Department has ordered the departure of non-emergency government personnel from Iraq, and the Pentagon has authorized military families to voluntarily leave U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) installations across the region. A defense official confirmed these steps to CBS News, citing "heightened regional tensions."

Military analysts suggest Israel may be motivated by concerns that its window to carry out manned airstrikes is narrowing. In October, Israeli operations damaged much of Iran’s strategic air defense infrastructure, including S-300 missile systems. However, many of those systems, particularly radar components, are being rapidly repaired, raising the stakes and risks for Israeli pilots.

“It’s possible Israel’s window for manned strikes, without being threatened by Iran’s coordinated strategic air defenses, is closing,” one source told NBC News.

While Israel would prefer U.S. logistical and intelligence support, it demonstrated in October 2024 that it can act independently when needed. That attack reportedly disabled a significant portion of Iran’s defenses, though it stopped short of targeting the core of its nuclear program.

U.S. officials have not briefed senior lawmakers on the current state of affairs, according to a congressional aide and a U.S. official. There is also no indication of planned U.S. involvement in any Israeli operation. While aerial refueling or intelligence-sharing support remains theoretically possible, sources said no such cooperation is in motion at this stage.

President Trump’s special envoy for Middle East affairs, Steve Witkoff, is still scheduled to hold a sixth round of nuclear discussions with Iranian officials in the coming days, two U.S. officials told NBC News. Yet the diplomatic effort is being overshadowed by intensifying speculation over a possible Israeli strike.

Adding to the tension, an Iranian official told The New York Times that Tehran has finalized a response strategy in the event of an Israeli attack. The plan reportedly includes a large-scale counterstrike comparable to the October 2024 missile barrage, when Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, prompting widespread evacuations and the activation of national air raid systems.