Former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly prevented a planned Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities and instead pursued diplomatic efforts to limit Tehran’s nuclear program. This information was revealed in a recent report by The New York Times.
According to the report, despite the absence of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iran for over 40 years, Trump, during his presidency, withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal signed between Iran and six world powers. However, in a shift of strategy, Trump later expressed interest in negotiating a new agreement with Iran.
A high-level meeting is scheduled for Saturday in Rome between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, marking one of the most significant diplomatic engagements since the collapse of the 2015 deal.
In March, Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling for talks and warning of possible military action if a deal could not be reached.
Trump administration officials told The New York Times that Israel sought Washington’s support for a strike on Iranian nuclear sites last May. The attack plan and its strategies had been under consideration for several months.
However, during a recent visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House, Trump made it clear that he would not support any military action. Instead, he announced a preference for direct talks with Tehran.
Although the West accuses Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, Tehran has consistently denied these claims. Since the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 deal, Iran has reportedly increased its nuclear capabilities.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently reported that Iran now possesses around 274.4 kilograms of uranium enriched close to weapons-grade levels, raising serious international concerns.