Key points
- Israel had developed plans to attack the sites in May: NYT
- US assistance was required to ensure attack was successful: Report
- Israel aimed to set back Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon by a year or more
ISLAMABAD: United States (US) President Donald Trump blocked a planned Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites in favour of negotiating a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear programme, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing administration officials and others.
According to the American newspaper, Israel had developed plans to attack the sites in May. The goal was to set back Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon by a year or more.
The New York Times said US assistance was required not just to defend Israel from Iranian retaliation but also ensure the attack was successful.
After months of internal debate, Trump made the decision to seek negotiations with Iran rather than support military action.
New nuclear deal
The United States and Iran, which have not had diplomatic relations for more than 40 years, are seeking a new nuclear deal after Trump pulled out of a landmark agreement during his first term.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are due to meet in Rome on Saturday, a week after they held the highest-level Iranian-US nuclear negotiations since the collapse of a 2015 accord, according to AFP News Agency.
In March, Trump sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging talks but warning of possible military action if they failed to produce a deal.
Washington’s assistance
Trump administration officials revealed to the New York Times that Israel had sought Washington’s assistance to carry out an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities in May.
According to the Times, the plan and its possible maneuvers were under consideration for months.
But during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House last week, Trump told the Israelis he would not support an attack. The president instead publicly announced the direct talks with Tehran.
Iran has consistently denied that it is seeking nuclear weapons, but has stepped up its nuclear capacities since Trump scrapped the 2015 agreement.
The latest International Atomic Energy Agency report noted with “serious concern” that Iran had an estimated 274.8 kilogrammes of uranium enriched to 60 per cent, nearing the weapons grade of 90 percent.
