"Trump to back Israel strikes on Iran if talks collapse"

Reported by US broadcaster CBS

"US considers options including aerial refueling support for Israel"

US broadcaster CBS reported on the 15th (local time) that US President Donald Trump had indicated he would support Israel striking Iran’s ballistic missile program if negotiations with Iran were to collapse.

According to sources who requested anonymity, Trump conveyed this stance when he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in December last year.

CBS also reported that internal discussions have begun among senior US military and intelligence officials to review the possibility of supporting Israel in renewed strikes on Iran. Multiple US officials said the talks are focused mainly on providing aerial refueling support for Israeli aircraft and securing overflight permissions from countries along potential flight routes.

The United States, which resumed nuclear talks with Iran after an eight-month hiatus, has maintained a “two-track” approach of applying military pressure on Iran while pursuing dialogue in parallel.

The US is ratcheting up pressure on Iran, having deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East and deciding to send an additional second carrier.

Meeting with reporters at the White House on the 13th, Trump said of the second carrier deployment that it would be “necessary in case the negotiations collapse.”

He also said he believes the negotiations with Iran will “succeed,” adding, “If not, it will be a very bad day for Iran.”

However, Netanyahu has publicly expressed skepticism about the prospects for a diplomatic agreement. On the 12th, Netanyahu said he had conveyed a negative view of the Iran nuclear talks to Trump, adding that “if (the US and Iran) reach an agreement, it must include key elements beyond the nuclear issue, including ballistic missiles and Iran’s proxy forces.”

As the United States steps up military pressure on Iran, its consideration of support for an Israeli strike appears to further clarify its stance on military options against Iran should the talks fail.

The United States and Iran, which resumed nuclear talks in Oman on the 6th, are set to continue the discussions on the 17th in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ko Jeong-sam, Hankyung.com reporter jsk@hankyung.com