Washington: A detailed account reveals how a series of high-level discussions and intelligence assessments led to one of the most consequential decisions in recent U.S. foreign policy — moving toward military confrontation with Iran.
According to report of The New York Times, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly briefed U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House Situation Room on February 11, prior to the outbreak of hostilities.
The setting was tightly controlled, with Trump seated facing wall screens while Netanyahu presented from across the table, backed visually by Israel’s top intelligence and military leadership, including Mossad chief David Barnea.
The meeting was deliberately kept small to avoid leaks. Those present included Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Dan Caine, John Ratcliffe, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff. Vice President JD Vance was absent due to travel commitments abroad.
During the briefing, Netanyahu strongly pushed for military action, arguing Iran was vulnerable and retaliation would likely be limited. He proposed a joint U.S.-Israeli operation aimed at crippling Iran’s military capabilities and potentially triggering regime change.
The following day, U.S. intelligence reviewed a four-part proposal: eliminating Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, weakening its regional military reach, sparking internal unrest, and achieving regime change. Officials assessed the first two objectives as feasible but expressed serious doubts about the latter.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe dismissed regime change as unrealistic, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected the idea outright. Military leadership, including General Dan Caine, also voiced skepticism, warning that Israeli proposals often overstated their viability and depended heavily on U.S. involvement.
Despite concerns, Trump remained focused on targeting Iran’s missile capabilities and leadership. JD Vance emerged as a key internal skeptic, warning that war could drain U.S. resources, destabilize the region, and increase Iran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supported military action, while advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner argued that diplomatic efforts would take months and were unlikely to succeed quickly.
Tensions escalated when intelligence indicated that Iran’s top leadership, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, might soon gather in Tehran, accelerating the timeline for action.
At a final February 26 meeting, Vance reiterated his opposition but ultimately backed the President’s authority. Rubio emphasized that any strikes should focus solely on disabling Iran’s missile program.
Legal advisers deemed the operation permissible, while political advisers warned of backlash but did not oppose the move. Ultimately, no senior official firmly attempted to block the decision.
After reviewing all perspectives, Trump approved the operation, reportedly stating, “I think we need to do it.” The decision was finalized the following day aboard Air Force One, authorizing Operation Epic Fury with the directive: “No aborts. Good luck.”