New York Times: Trump halts Israeli plans to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities that was expected in May
US President Donald Trump has blocked an Israeli plan to strike Iranian nuclear sites, The New York Times reported Wednesday, as Washington seeks to reach an agreement with Tehran over its nuclear program.
The United States and Iran, which have had no diplomatic relations since the Iranian revolution more than 40 years ago, are seeking to conclude a new nuclear agreement after Trump withdrew from the first agreement during his first term.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Rome on Saturday, a week after the highest-level talks between Tehran and Washington on the nuclear issue since the collapse of the 2015 agreement.
In March, Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling for talks, while also threatening possible military action if diplomacy with Tehran failed.
Trump administration officials revealed to the New York Times that Israel requested Washington’s assistance in launching an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities in May.
According to The New York Times, the plan had been under consideration for months.
But during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House last week, Trump informed the Israelis that he would not support any attack.
Instead, the president announced direct talks with Tehran.
Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, but it has strengthened its nuclear capabilities since Trump withdrew from the 2015 agreement.
In its latest quarterly report published in February, the International Atomic Energy Agency estimated that Iran now possesses 274.8 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, far exceeding the 3.67% limit set by the 2015 agreement.
