US refuses to approve Israeli strike as Iran missile threat grows – report

President Trump’s current approach relies on diplomatic and economic pressure rather than immediate military action.

By World Israel News Staff

As rumors and intelligence warnings about a growing Iranian missile threat continue to mount, concern is rising across the region.

At the same time, senior U.S. officials are signaling that the Trump administration is not, at this stage, inclined to approve direct Israeli military action against Iran’s ballistic missile program, despite heightened tensions and intensified Iranian military activity.

A senior U.S. State Department official told Israel’s Wallah News that while Washington continues to view Iran as a destabilizing force in the Middle East and beyond, President Donald Trump’s current approach relies on diplomatic and economic pressure rather than immediate military action.

The official said the administration has reinstated its “maximum pressure” policy, aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, scaling back its ballistic missile program, and limiting its support for terror groups.

The U.S. stance comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to raise renewed military options against Iran in a planned meeting with Trump at the president’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on December 29.

According to U.S. and Israeli sources cited by NBC News, Israeli assessments indicate that Iran is accelerating efforts to rebuild and expand its ballistic missile capabilities following strikes earlier this year.

Israeli officials quoted in the report said they now view Iran’s missile production and recovery of air defense systems as a more immediate threat than its nuclear program, which they believe was significantly damaged during U.S. and Israeli operations in June.

Netanyahu is expected to argue that Iran’s expanding missile arsenal threatens not only Israel but also regional stability and U.S. interests, and to present a range of options that could include Israeli action alone or varying levels of American involvement.

The debate is unfolding amid growing alarm over recent Iranian military activity.

According to U.S. and Israeli sources, Western intelligence has detected unusual air activity in Iranian airspace over the past several days involving drones and missiles, appearing to be part of a large-scale missile exercise.

A report published by Axios said Israel’s security establishment is increasingly concerned that the drills, following similar recent activity, could serve as cover for a planned surprise attack on Israel.

While Washington is emphasizing sanctions, diplomacy, and deterrence for now, Israeli officials continue to warn that Iran’s accelerating missile capabilities represent a rapidly evolving threat.

The upcoming meeting between Netanyahu and Trump is set to underscore the growing strategic debate between the two allies over how and when to confront the expanding Iranian missile threat.