Details of potential US-Israel strike on Iran Opinion by Bloomberg

Despite recent gestures toward diplomacy from the Trump administration, the prospects of a nuclear deal with Iran appear dimming. In a revealing analysis published by Bloomberg, the outlines of a possible military operation against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure are drawn with stark precision — offering a chilling glimpse of what might unfold should negotiations collapse.

President Donald Trump, even in his more optimistic statements, made it clear that the US would not tolerate any form of uranium enrichment by Iran.

“The US would not allow Tehran any form of uranium enrichment capability,” he said this week — a position his aides have echoed with varying levels of commitment. 

Tehran’s insistence that its enrichment program is solely for civilian energy use has failed to convince either Washington or Jerusalem.

Israel, meanwhile, is signaling a growing impatience. With Iranian air defences weakened after years of sporadic conflict, Israel is preparing for the possibility of preemptive action. Trump has urged Israeli restraint while he tries to forge a peaceful arrangement. Yet, if diplomacy fails, joint US-Israeli military action is clearly on the table.

Behind the scenes, planning appears to be accelerating. The Pentagon, US Central Command in Florida, and Israel’s Defence Forces have maintained updated contingency plans for years, but the tempo has shifted. Months ago, Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian missile production in Syria during Operation Many Ways, showcasing Israel’s continued reach and evolving tactics.

A joint strike would begin in cyberspace, disrupting Tehran’s military grid before the first missile is launched. According to Bloomberg, the Israelis probably have that ability, which essentially cyber-boots on the ground. Simultaneously, a swarm of US and Israeli cruise missiles and drones would target Iran’s Russian-supplied S-300 and S-200 air defences, along with domestically developed systems like the Bavar 373 and Khordad 15.

Special forces would likely play a role too. Drawing on past operations, elite Israeli units such as the Shaldag Unit could be deployed to gather intelligence or guide precision strikes. Naval support might position these forces close enough to infiltrate via helicopter.

America’s muscle would be most evident in the air. Waves of Tomahawk missiles launched from destroyers and cruisers would cripple Iran’s radars and command systems. Submarines could supplement the effort, albeit with smaller payloads. Drones would target Iranian aircraft before they leave the ground — many of which are outdated and poorly maintained relics from the 1970s and '80s.

Joint squadrons of F-35 fighters would dominate the skies, launched from US bases in Qatar and the UAE, or off aircraft carriers. 

“It would be best to have at least two aircraft carriers, with 80 combat aircraft each,” the piece notes. Israeli F-16s and F-18s would provide follow-up strikes, ensuring control of the airspace.

The critical blow would be delivered by B-2 Spirit bombers, carrying 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs, aimed at deeply buried uranium enrichment sites like Natanz and Fordow. Even with hardened defenses, analysts suggest the Iranian program would be knocked back by at least a year.

Yet Iran’s true trump card lies in the unknown. Iran is a huge country, almost two and a half times the size of Texas… This would be a challenging mission indeed. Undiscovered sites or covert facilities could survive — keeping the threat alive.

Retaliation would be swift and unpredictable. Iran might launch ballistic missiles toward Israel, leverage Hezbollah’s remaining arsenal, or target US and Israeli interests abroad through bombings and cyberattacks. Blocking the Strait of Hormuz — through which a third of the world’s oil flows — could cripple global energy markets and provoke a regional war.

While the Pentagon and IDF are war-gaming strike scenarios, Iran is running out of diplomatic options. Its former proxies — Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis — are weakened or off-script.

“If Tehran blows this chance to negotiate with the US,” the Bloomberg piece concludes, “it is headed to a very dark endgame indeed.”

By Sabina Mammadli