Israeli Security Officials Question Threat at Fordow Site Amid Secret UAE Talks and White House Meeting

In recent days, Israeli security officials have expressed doubts about the scale of the threat posed by the underground nuclear site at Fordow. According to a Kan News report, these officials believe the focused attention on the site is exaggerated and question claims that thousands of advanced centrifuges have been transferred there. Furthermore, Israel’s defense establishment emphasizes that it is uncertain whether an airstrike, even by heavy US bombers, could successfully target the site.

Despite these reservations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented detailed intelligence on Fordow and broader Iranian nuclear activities during a meeting at the White House with US President Donald Trump. The expanded meeting included CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yacov Hadas-Handelsman, and Military Secretary Guy Markizano. Ambassador Hadas-Handelsman brought maps, likely related to US demands for further Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, a topic expected to dominate upcoming bilateral talks.

Concurrently, Channel 12 revealed that in recent weeks, secret coordination meetings took place between senior Israeli and Emirati officials in a third undisclosed country. The UAE representatives strongly opposed the emerging US-Iran memorandum of understanding, viewing it as a stalling tactic allowing Tehran economic recovery without meaningful concessions. Discussions also covered potential cooperation in international forums, with both sides agreeing to coordinate fully with the US. Western diplomats noted the UAE’s clear stance that no concessions should be granted to Iran, especially given Tehran’s ability to bypass the Strait of Hormuz for oil and gas exports, underscoring shared regional interests.

Ahead of the White House meeting, i24NEWS reported heightened tension around Netanyahu, particularly after Trump stated on Fox News that he did not require updates from Netanyahu on potential strikes at Fordow. Insiders acknowledged ongoing coordination but highlighted a key dispute between Jerusalem and Washington over the pace of addressing the Iranian issue. While Washington recognizes the operational picture and has approved Fordow as a legitimate target, it prefers a controlled escalation and diplomatic engagement, whereas Israel pushes for an immediate decisive strike.