Iran’s Nuclear Program In Crosshairs: Is The US Or Israel Ready To Strike?

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – Israel Appears Ready to Attack Iran, Officials in U.S. and Europe Say. President Trump has appeared less optimistic in recent days about the prospects for a diplomatic settlement after Iran’s supreme leader rejected an administration proposal that would have effectively phased out Iran’s ability to enrich uranium on its soil.

Israeli officials believe they have a golden opportunity to take out Iran’s potential nuclear capability now as Israel recently decimated Hezbollah and Hamas, Iranian proxy groups that Tehran has long relied on as a deterrent to Israeli action.

Israeli airstrikes last year also severely reduced Iran’s air defense systems, though they are being rebuilt.

If Israel does strike, Tehran has reportedly devised a response that would involve an immediate counter strike on Israel with hundreds of ballistic missiles.

Meanwhile, the head of Central Command testified that he had presented Trump and Hegseth “a wide range of options” for a potential strike against Iran.

In preparation, the U.S. is drawing down the presence of DOD, State Dept., and other staffers who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East and their loved ones.

This all comes as UN nuclear watchdog formally found that Iran isn’t complying with its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years, a move that could lead to further tensions and set in motion an effort to restore UN sanctions on Tehran later this year.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories ending the week from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

The new DOD leadership has set itself up to potentially oversee fundamental changes that could dramatically improve military warfighting capabilities for decades to come.

E-2 Hawkeye replaces USAF E-3 Sentry, E-7 cancelled in new budget. A shift has occurred in Trump’s new defense spending plan regarding the USAF’s airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) predicament. The service’s E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft are dwindling in number and rapidly aging..

DOD is proposing to halve its planned F-35 buy and boost funding for the sixth-gen F-47 fighter jet—but many of its 2026 budget-proposal details hinge on the reconciliation legislation still being debated on Capitol Hill.

As futuristic aviation programs gain priority, the F-35—the only in-production, fifth-generation U.S. fighter—is facing new headwinds. Fresh debate over its challenges and its potential in the coming months will shape its future role in the force.

HOMELAND SECURITY

SECDEF Hegseth suggested that, ‘if necessary,’ the Trump administration could send troops to any city in America over the objections of state and local officials, as it is doing now in Los Angeles.

The 700 Marines recently ordered to deploy to LA have not yet completed training on less-than-lethal weapons and training on the Standing Rules for Use of Force, which governs the use of force for military personnel within the U.S., says NORTHCOM.

DHS’ Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been flying its unarmed Predator B drones, commonly referred to by their military variant designation of MQ-9 Reapers, over LA as part of the U.S. government’s response to the unrest.

‘Threat to democracy,’ yada, yada, blah, blah – California governor says ‘democracy is under assault’ by Trump as feds intervene in LA protests, calling Trump a threat to the American way of life, depicting the military intervention in LA as the onset of a much broader effort by Trump.

Let them into Mexico and allow them to protest – Mexico’s most powerful drug cartels are recruiting former Colombian soldiers, prompting Mexican authorities to turn away dozens of Colombians trying to enter the country in recent weeks.

POLITICS

Army Secretary says recruiting centers will be “busting at the seams” after DC parade. Daniel Driscoll discusses what he sees as the potential benefits of the Army’s upcoming anniversary parade.

DOD intends to request about $205 billion in procurement funding for fiscal year 2026, roughly 18% more than was enacted in FY25, with big winners that include the F-15EX and Army munitions and a big loser in the F-35.

Efforts to craft DOD’s next budget has highlighted GOP disagreement on whether the U.S. should continue to support Ukraine in its war with Russia, pitting some key GOP defense hawks against the Trump administration.

Before lawmakers, Hegseth refuses to disclose cost, schedule to convert Qatari jet to an interim Air Force One, frustrating lawmakers who pointed out such details are public for the actual Air Force One program.

US POWER OVERSEAS

Denmark has voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new defense agreement giving the U.S. sweeping powers on Danish soil, including “unhindered access” to its airbases.

Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) continues to carry out routine operations in the South China Sea and the U.S and Singapore kicked off joint naval drills in Guam.

CHINA THREAT

Chinese fighters had two close encounters with Japanese patrol aircraft as Beijing’s two aircraft carriers operated simultaneously in the Pacific for the first time.

Japan protests to China after the ‘dangerous,’ ‘near-miss’ moves.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine told senators that he did not believe Vladimir Putin would stop at Ukraine if he succeeds in overtaking the country, a marked contrast to President Trump’s typical ambiguity on the question.

Britain’s top military officer has told MPs that the UK is “ready to fight” and capable of “facing down the threats of Russia”, even as he acknowledged the need for greater investment in the Army and support services.

German NATO General has called for the return of military conscription in Germany amid a shortfall of up to 60,000 troops in the Bundeswehr, the country’s military.

SPACE THREAT

Space superiority is crucial for Joint Force dominance. As space systems evolve from a strategic asset to a tactical necessity, Joint Force capabilities now depend on space as a vital source of connectivity and intelligence across every domain.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

If U.S. abandons Europe, will the continent fragment or unify? Trump has pushed NATO allies to commit up to 5% of their GDP to defense and signaled that the U.S. may no longer provide a conventional military backstop on the continent.

DOD is reviewing the AUKUS agreement on sharing nuclear-powered submarine technology with Australia and the UK — a decision that may cause angst among U.S. allies.

Authors of UK’s Strategic Defense Review have downplayed the idea of Britain acquiring air-launched tactical nuclear weapons, despite growing speculation that the UK is considering purchasing F-35A aircraft to enable such a capability.

The in-development next-gen GCAP fighter and the newly launched American F-47 can be cogs in an integrated allied system of fighters and not competitors, a European official has said.

A stretch of Devon coastline has hosted its largest amphibious military exercise since WWII, as NATO allies conducted major landings during Exercise Catamaran.

US MILITARY

Army moving on from MFEW aerial electronic jammer, embracing backpack as ground-based solution, among other changes to the service’s electronic warfare offerings.

Navy’s future Constellation class frigates are set to be at least 759 metric tons (close to 867 U.S. tons) heavier than expected — a 13% increase over earlier estimates, raising concerns about how this could impact the ships’ top speed and other capabilities.

Air Force has tested a new variation of its ship-killing ‘Quicksink’ guided bomb to expand its options for taking out enemy vessels.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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