Trump Reportedly Blocked Israeli Plan To Strike Iran Nuclear Facilities NYT

Trump Reportedly Blocked Israeli Plan To Strike Iran Nuclear Facilities NYT

Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly halted an Israeli initiative to launch a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to a report by The New York Times on Wednesday. The revelation comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts by Washington to broker a deal aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions….READ MORE…

Despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran for over four decades, both nations are currently working toward re-establishing a nuclear agreement following Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 deal during his tenure.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are scheduled to hold high-level discussions in Rome on Saturday, marking the most significant direct engagement between the two countries since the collapse of the original accord.

In March, Trump reportedly sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, encouraging diplomatic dialogue while cautioning that failure to reach an agreement could lead to military consequences.

According to Trump administration sources cited by The New York Times, Israel had approached the U.S. earlier in May, seeking cooperation for a potential strike on Iranian nuclear sites. The proposal, which included detailed military scenarios, had been under consideration for several months.

However, during a recent meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump ultimately declined to endorse the plan. Instead, he publicly announced the U.S. would pursue direct negotiations with Iran.

Iran, while repeatedly asserting that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, has significantly expanded its nuclear activities since the U.S. exited the 2015 agreement. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently expressed “serious concern” over Iran’s stockpile of 274.8 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 percent—approaching the 90 percent threshold required for weapons-grade material.