Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing a detailed briefing for U.S. President Donald Trump that outlines the “urgent necessity” of striking Iran once again, according to a report by NBC News on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
The meeting, scheduled for December 29 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, comes amid intelligence reports suggesting that Iran is rapidly rebuilding infrastructure destroyed during the Israel-Iran War earlier this summer.
The Intelligence: A “Reconstituted” Threat
Israeli defense officials have shifted their focus from Iran’s nuclear capabilities to its conventional ballistic missile arsenal.
Rapid Reconstitution: Sources indicate that Iran is successfully repairing its ballistic missile production facilities and air defense systems that were “severely degraded” by Israeli strikes in June.
Ballistic vs. Nuclear: While Israel remains concerned about nuclear sites, Jerusalem views the immediate expansion of the missile stockpile as a more pressing tactical threat. “The threat of the missiles is very real, and we weren’t able to prevent them all last time,” a source told NBC.
The “Red Line” Proposal: Netanyahu is expected to present Trump with specific options for U.S. participation or assistance in a potential second wave of military operations to “permanently” neutralize these facilities.
Flashback: Operation Midnight Hammer
The current tension is a direct fallout of the brief but intense war in June 2025:
The U.S. Intervention: On June 21, 2025, the U.S. launched Operation Midnight Hammer, deploying seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and the first-ever combat use of the 30,000-pound GBU-57 “Bunker Buster” bombs against nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Battle Damage: While the White House initially claimed the strikes “totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities, recent IAEA reports suggest Iran is attempting to restore access to these damaged subterranean sites.
The White House Stance: “Obliteration” or Diplomacy?
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly reiterated President Trump’s hardline stance on Saturday, framing the previous strikes as a historic success.
“As President Trump has said, if Iran pursued a nuclear weapon, that site would be attacked and would be wiped out before they even got close,” Kelly said in a statement.
She added that the administration’s National Security Strategy has already “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities, and any attempt to rebuild would be met with “force far greater than what was witnessed in June.”
Netanyahu’s Agenda for Dec 29
| Topic | Key Argument |
| Ballistic Missiles | Poses a direct threat to U.S. regional bases and maritime security. |
| Air Defenses | Iran is acquiring new technologies to counter stealth assets; must be hit before they are operational. |
| Regional Stability | Proposing a “Joint Regional Defense” pact involving U.S. and Abraham Accords allies. |
| Lebanon Policy | Discussing the Jan 31 deadline for disarming Hezbollah. |