Trump Considers Largest-Ever Military Strike on Iran Amid Rising Middle East Tensions

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East over the past two weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified threats against Iran, stating he is considering a massive military strike that would be the largest ever if Tehran continues its current course and ignores American demands. Trump indicated that Israel would join the operation if requested. This statement follows a series of recent warnings from Trump that military options remain on the table and that the U.S. would not hesitate to act if it perceives the Iranian threat is increasing. He previously warned that without a "truly good" deal, the U.S. might launch a "larger and stronger" military action than ever before.

In Israel, these remarks gained added significance after Likud MK Moshe Saada unexpectedly said in an interview that an attack on Iran might occur as soon as the coming weekend. Despite these comments, Israeli assessments suggest that while the U.S. is ramping up pressure on Iran and preparing for possible escalation, it currently does not intend to involve Israel in any strike unless Israel itself is attacked.

Separately, Trump sought to ease concerns about a developing civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia by stating on his social media platform that the deal would be contingent on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords and normalizing relations with Israel. He emphasized the agreement would be strictly for peaceful nuclear energy purposes, prohibiting uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia, aiming to avoid fueling a regional nuclear arms race. This linkage is seen as a strategic move to pressure Riyadh toward normalization despite previous Saudi conditions.

In response to the heightened tensions, several Israeli municipalities, including Herzliya, Eilat, Ramat Gan, and Karmiel, have preemptively opened public bomb shelters and increased emergency preparedness measures. Local officials stressed these steps are precautionary and not due to any official change in threat level, urging residents to familiarize themselves with nearby protected spaces and follow updates from the Home Front Command. Herzliya's mayor, Yariv Fisher, held a security briefing with defense and emergency representatives, confirming readiness for any scenario.