Israel has provided reassurances to the Trump administration that it will not carry out a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities without a clear signal from President Trump that diplomatic efforts with Tehran have ended, according to two Israeli officials familiar with the matter, as reported by Axios.
This message appears to have eased anxieties among U.S. officials, who were increasingly worried that Israel might act unilaterally while American diplomats continue to engage in sensitive discussions with Iran.
President Trump said last week that he had warned Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu not to launch any attack during the negotiations, though he added that his position “could change with a phone call” if he concludes the talks are going nowhere.
The commitment from Israel was delivered during a visit to Washington by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Mossad chief David Barnea, and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, according to Israeli sources speaking to Axios.
One Israeli official noted that their team clearly communicated to American officials that Israel had no intention of taking independent military action without prior consultation.
“We calmed the Americans and told them there is no logic in launching an attack if a good diplomatic solution can be found. This is why we are going to give it a chance and wait with any military action until it is clear that negotiations were exhausted and [White House envoy] Steve Witkoff has given up,” a second Israeli official stated.
Although the Israeli military remains actively engaged in preparing for a potential mission against Iran, a senior official clarified that recent IDF activities were mistakenly seen by some in the U.S. and elsewhere as preparations for a strike on Iran, when in fact they were aimed at Houthi targets in Yemen.
The White House is currently anticipating a formal reply from Iran to the latest nuclear deal proposal. Iranian officials have indicated that a draft response is in the works. President Trump, in the meantime, criticized Tehran on Wednesday for dragging its feet, accusing the regime of “slow-walking their decision” after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei voiced objections to Washington’s offer.
According to the Trump administration’s reading of the situation, a two-month window for reaching a deal is about to close next week.
Even so, an Israeli official revealed that Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed doubts to President Trump about the prospects of the negotiations producing a meaningful agreement. This source added that, despite the lack of progress, Iran is likely to keep the talks from breaking down completely. “It could take another several months of negotiations before Trump decides it has failed,” one Israeli official projected.
{Matzav.com}