US President Donald Trump blocked a planned Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites in favor of negotiating a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing administration officials and others with information on the matter.
Trump’s decision came after discussions on whether to provide support to the Jewish state or follow a diplomatic course, with some in Washington favoring a more hawkish approach. In contrast, others were dubious that a strike could destroy the Islamic Republic’s nuclear capabilities.
However, an agreement was ultimately obtained, deciding against military action as Iran consented to talks.
The president told Israel of his decision earlier in April, according to the report, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Washington visit.
Israel had made plans, according to the report, to attack Iranian nuclear sites next month, with the IDF prepared to carry them out with US endorsement.
This endorsement would be key to the success of Israel’s plan which would require US help, rendering Israel’s ally a key agent in the attack.
What was Israel’s alleged plan?
The NYT report said that multiple officials briefed on Israel’s plans and confidential discussions inside the Trump administration who spoke on condition of anonymity stated that Israel long planned to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, including “rehearsing bombing runs and calculating how much damage it could do with or without American help.”
This was escalated as support within the Israeli cabinet for a strike grew after Iran suffered a “string of setbacks” in 2024 such as the April 14 ballistic missile attack on Israel when most of their missiles were unable to penetrate American and Israeli defenses, as well as the attacks on Hezbollah, the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s rule over Syria cutting off a prime weapons smuggling route for Iran, the destruction of air defense systems in Iran and Syria, and that of facilities that Iran uses to make fuel for its ballistic missiles.
Senior Israeli officials reportedly updated American counterparts of a plan that would have combined a commando raid on underground nuclear sites with a bombing campaign, with Israel hoping that American aircraft would aid in the bombing.
However, Israeli military officials stated that the commando operation would not be carried out until October, with Netanyahu needing it carried out more quickly, NYT added.
Due to this, Israeli officials began shifting their proposal to an extended bombing campaign that would have required increased US assistance, according to officials briefed on the plan cited by the NYT.
The report mentioned the US officials more inclined to Israel’s plans to attack as US Central Command (CENTCOM)’s Commanding Officer Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, and Mike Waltz, the White House’s National Security Adviser.
The US relocated six B-2 bombers, capable of carrying 30,000-pound bombs which are essential to destroying Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, to Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean, with the administration considering moving additional fighter aircraft to the Middle East, potentially to the US Air Force base in Israel, the report added.
Earlier in April, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard presented a new intelligence assessment that a buildup of American weaponry in the Middle East could “potentially spark a wider conflict with Iran that the US did not want.”
Doubts were also echoed by Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and others, the NYT added.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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