The US government is exploring the possibility of using a new armed aerial reconnaissance drone, known as the Predator C Avenger, to conduct surveillance of ballistic missile launch sites. Manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) says the US government has shown interest in using the high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft to locate and target missiles for a boost phase intercept[.]
Add this in to the rest of the layers behind it, and we may yet be able to use this shield to protect ourselves while we strike Iran.
It isn't ideal, to say the least, to restrain ourselves from using force until Iran openly goes nuclear. But if we do refuse to act until Iran is openly a nuclear weapons power, we still do have options to end that threat.