Rare Move: US Lawmakers Demand Transparency on Israel's Nuclear Capabilities

Washington, DC – In a rare move, 30 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling on President Donald Trump's administration to provide clear information about Israel's nuclear weapons program. The letter, dated May 4, argues that the ongoing U.S.-Israel war with Iran makes transparency on this issue urgent.

The lawmakers cited Israel's “policy of deliberate ambiguity,” the country is believed to have possessed nuclear weapons since the 1960s but has never officially confirmed it. They accused the White House of maintaining a silence that undermines non-proliferation efforts in the Middle East.

“The official policy of ambiguity regarding the nuclear capabilities of one party to this conflict makes it impossible to develop a coherent non-proliferation policy in the Middle East,” the letter states. “This applies to Iran, Saudi Arabia, and every other country in the region that makes decisions based on their perception of the capabilities of their neighbors.”

Specific Requests

The letter poses a series of direct questions. The lawmakers asked Secretary Rubio to disclose what types of nuclear weapons Israel currently possesses, including information on warheads and delivery systems. They specifically focused on the Negev Nuclear Research Center in Dimona, widely seen as the heart of Israel's nuclear program.

Questions include: Does Israel have uranium enrichment capabilities, and if so, to what extent? What is Israel's plutonium stockpile? Has Israel—a non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)—presented the U.S. with its “nuclear doctrine, red lines, or thresholds for use” in the war with Iran? Has the U.S. administration received any assurances from Israel that nuclear weapons will not be used? Are there any indications that Israel plans to deploy nuclear weapons in recent conflicts?

Evidence of Israel's Nuclear Program

The letter emphasizes “the public record strongly and consistently supports” the conclusion that Israel possesses nuclear weapons, citing a 1974 U.S. National Intelligence Estimate and statements from U.S. and Israeli officials. Declassified documents show that as early as 1968, the CIA reported to President Lyndon B. Johnson that Israel had the capacity to develop nuclear weapons. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates listed Israel among “nuclear weapons states” during a 2006 hearing.

According to the Washington-based Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), Israel is estimated to have 90 nuclear warheads, a plutonium stockpile of 750 to 1,110 kilograms, six nuclear-capable submarines, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles with a range of 4,800 to 6,500 kilometers.

Historical Pressure from Congress

While some lawmakers have previously raised the issue—such as Representative James McGovern referring to Israel as a nuclear-armed state in a 2019 resolution—coordinated congressional pressure on the White House is extremely rare.

The move comes amid growing bipartisan questions about Washington's close relationship with Israel, particularly after the war in Gaza and the U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran. In April, 40 Democratic senators voted in favor of a bill to block the sale of military bulldozers to Israel. Although the bill did not pass, activists hailed it as a “historic” step.

In a statement to Al Jazeera, Josh Reubner, Policy Director of the Policy Project at the Institute for Middle East Understanding, welcomed the lawmakers' action. “Congressional members are absolutely right to question why Israel's nuclear weapons program is exempted while we try to prevent Iran from developing such weapons,” he said.