Israel was preparing to launch military strikes against multiple nuclear targets in Iran-until U.S. President Donald Trump intervened, according to a New York Times report citing administration officials and others briefed on the discussions.
Times reported that Israel was planning to strike Iran as soon as May, but Trump stepped in because the White House was leaning toward taking a diplomatic approach toward Tehran as opposed to a military one.
Israel’s reported decision to call off the strikes comes as tensions between Israel, Iran, and its proxies continue to escalate, and Iran recently flat-out rejected U.S. demands to curb its uranium enrichment.
According to the Times, Trump decided to negotiate with Iran after months of internal debate among administration officials who favored a stronger military stance against the rogue state and those who were wary of launching a wider war in the Middle East when tensions in the region are already at a tipping point.
Trump earlier this week said that he plans to decide on Iran “very quickly,” following what officials said were positive nuclear talks in Oman.
But the negotiations hit a snag when Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s special envoy to the Middle East, said Iran “must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected Witkoff’s demand, saying Wednesday that Iran’s uranium enrichment “is not subject to negotiation.”
A second round of talks is scheduled for Saturday. The absence of U.S. support, ensuring Israel’s attack was successful and providing Israel protection from Iranian retaliation, likely pushed Israel to call off its plans to launch military strikes against Iranian targets, according to the Times.
The report added that the goal of Israel’s strikes was to set Iran back at least a year in its nuclear ambitions.
Developing story….
(Miami Times)
