‘Countless Overt and Covert Operations’: Israel Touts Record Against Iran Nuclear Program as U.S. Deliberates on Military Strike

Latest Developments

• Israel Cites Past Action Against Iran Nuclear Program: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office highlighted on April 17 Israel’s efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “The Prime Minister has led countless overt and covert operations in the campaign against Iran’s nuclear program; it is only due to these operations that Iran does not currently possess a nuclear arsenal,” Netanyahu’s office said. The statement added that “these actions have delayed Iran’s nuclear program by approximately a decade,” concluding: “Israel will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.”
• U.S. Weighs Options on Military Action: Israel’s statements came a day after The New York Times reported that President Donald Trump had withheld support from Israel for a May military strike on Iran’s nuclear program to allow time for diplomatic negotiations aimed at dismantling Tehran’s nuclear weapons program. As he deliberates next steps, Trump has kept the possibility of military action open, stating after a meeting with Netanyahu earlier this month that “if it requires military, we’re obviously going to have military.”
• Iran Talks Underway: Negotiations between the United States and Iran began on April 12 in Oman, with the Iranian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, negotiating with representatives from the U.S. administration headed by White House envoy Steve Witkoff. Further talks are scheduled in Rome on April 19.

FDD Expert Response

“The Trump administration has a historic chance to safeguard Israel and regional partners’ security by demanding Iran’s full, verified, and permanent nuclear disarmament. At the next round of talks, if Tehran fails to agree to dismantlement as a basis for negotiations, the president should walk away. He should shore up maximum pressure against the regime, support the Iranian people’s aspirations for freedom, and consider Tehran’s forcible nuclear dismantlement through military strikes.” — Andrea Stricker, FDD Research Fellow and Deputy Director of FDD’s Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program

“Israel’s October 2024 air campaign targeting the regime’s air defense systems and missile sites — coupled with its broad offensive against Tehran’s proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen — has not only stripped the Islamic Republic of any credible military deterrent but also showcased Israel’s operational reach. Together, these actions have laid the groundwork for a potential campaign against nuclear sites across Iran, should diplomatic efforts fail.” — Janatan Sayeh, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Questions Loom Over U.S. Concessions to Iran in Nuclear Negotiations,” FDD Flash Brief

“What President Trump Must Demand to Eliminate Iran’s Nuclear Threat,” by Orde Kittrie, Andrea Stricker, and Behnam Ben Taleblu

“‘This is Just a Beginning’: United States and Iran Begin Nuclear Talks in Oman,” FDD Flash Brief

“FAQ: U.S. To Hold Nuclear Talks With Iran,” by Andrea Stricker

“‘This is Where the Negotiations Can End’: Iran Signals Opposition to Dismantling Nuclear and Missile Programs,” FDD Flash Brief