The Israel defense forces have been instructed to prepare for the possibility of a US military strike against Iran before President Donald Trump leaves office, Axios reported referring to high-ranking Israeli officials.

The Israeli government has instructed the Israel defense forces to take action based not on any intelligence that Trump will order such a strike, but because of the anticipation of a very sensitive period before Biden's inauguration on January 20.

The New York Times reported last week that Trump raised the possibility of an attack on Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility in a meeting with senior members of his national security team.

Israeli Defense Secretary Benny Gantz has spoken twice in the past two weeks with acting defense secretary Christopher Miller. They discussed Iran, as well as Syria and defense cooperation. Last Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Saudi Arabia with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Iran was one of the main issues discussed, Israeli officials said.

Last week, Pompeo visited Israel and several Gulf countries to discuss Iran. State Department officials traveling with Pompeo told reporters that all options are on the table.

While Pompeo was in the Persian Gulf, US Central Command announced that B-52 strategic bombers had carried out a short and long-range mission to the Middle East to contain aggression and calm American partners and allies. This was taken as another signal to Iran.

Hossein Dehghan, an adviser to the Iranian leader and a possible candidate for the upcoming presidential elections in Iran, told the AP last week that a US military strike on Iran could trigger a full-scale war in the Middle East.

Senior Israeli officials said Israel would receive advance notice in the event of a US strike on Iran. But they are concerned that this will not be enough for full preparation. Thus, the order of the Israel defense forces to start making preparations is made with the assumption that such a scenario is possible.