The dilemma of whether the US should join Israel in attacking Iran or stay out of the offensive altogether has exposed divisions among US President Donald Trump’s supporters.
The Republican president reportedly is considering helping target the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities, following a meeting with his national security advisers in the White House Situation Room on Tuesday.
Several proponents of Trump’s “America First” doctrine have pointed out that he vowed to keep the US out of “forever wars” such as those that led to the deaths of thousands of US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Other war hawks in the party are egging on Trump to target Iran.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said it was in the national security interests of the US to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb.
Tehran maintains its nuclear programme is for peaceful, civilian purposes such as energy.
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Trump is reportedly “considering” joining Israel’s strikes against Iranian nuclear sites, the BBC’s US partner CBS News reported.
One potential target could be the uranium enrichment site at Fordo that is deep underground, but only the Americans have the 30,000lb bomb capable of destroying it.
Trump held a meeting on Tuesday with his national security team that lasted nearly 90 minutes in the Situation Room of the White House to discuss their next steps.
According to CBS News, the president’s advisers are still divided about how to proceed.
The US joining Israel “would completely change” the dynamics of the war, Dara Conduit told BBC News earlier.
Yesterday, Trump took to social media to demand Iran’s “unconditional surrender“.
