US CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Kurilla (left) with IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi, July 17, 2022. (YouTube/Screenshot)
General Michael Kurilla: “I have provided the secretary of defense and the president a wide range of options.”
By Vered Weiss, World Israel News
The top US general for the Middle East testified before Congress that he had presented US President Donald Trump with plans to strike Iran if the nuclear talks fail.
Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, head of the House Armed Services Committee, asked Central Command head Gen. Michael Kurilla if the US was prepared to respond with “overwhelming force” if Iran refuses to give up its nuclear program.
“I have provided the secretary of defense and the president a wide range of options,” General Kurilla responded.
“I take that as a yes?” the Alabama Republican asked.
“Yes,” Kurilla responded.
Although Trump directly threatened in March to bomb Iran if it didn’t reach a nuclear deal with the United States, he more recently backed away from bellicose rhetoric and has insisted on diplomacy.
Last week, Trump warned Netanyahu against threats to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities while negotiations were ongoing, Axios reported.
Trump told Netanyahu that he “doesn’t want anything to impede” the Iran talks, a White House official said.
Trump, the official said, “doesn’t want [Netanyahu] to antagonize at a time when he is trying to solve problems.”
When asked about the request, Trump responded, “I won’t lie, I did. But it wasn’t a warning; it was me saying I don’t think it’s appropriate right now.”
Referring to the volatility of the situation, Trump added, “One phone call could change everything.”
Israel, at several points, has indicated that it was ready to strike Iran’s nuclear sites, particularly after Iran’s April and October 2024 missile attacks on Israel, which led to Israel responding by striking Iran’s proxies.
After Israel successfully weakened its air defense systems and scaled back the capabilities of Iran’s proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah, several Israeli officials have indicated the time is right to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities.
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