Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu

Donald Trump is currently considering whether to join Israel in bombing Iran – a seismic decision which could cause chaos across the Middle East and beyond.

The UK is particularly nervous to see what the mercurial president does next, knowing that there may well be pressure for Britain to assist America, as one of its closest allies.

So as much of the West and the Middle East nervously await news from the White House, here’s a look back at just how we ended up on this knife-edge...

Why has Israel been bombing Iran?

Israel claims it had no option but to attack Iran because Tehran was close to developing nuclear weapons.

The Fordo nuclear site is one of two facilities where Iran can enrich uranium. It’s build into a mountain for safety, 124 miles south of Tehran.

While the facility has been hit by Israel’s recent attacks, it’s thought the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) was actually trying to weaken Iran’s defence capabilities around the facility.

Only one conventional weapon could actually destroy the fortified site, and it belong to the US.

Smoke rises up after Israel's attack, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Is Iran on the cusp of developing a nuclear bomb?

It’s not clear.

To build such a........

© HuffPost