Trump Blocked Planned Israeli Strike On Iran, Opted For Talks Instead

 

Trump has reportedly blocked Israeli plans to carry out a major strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities this May, instead opting to pursue a high-stakes diplomatic push aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

According to a detailed report by The New York Times, Israeli officials had recently finalized a plan to hit multiple Iranian nuclear sites next month, a coordinated military operation that they believed would delay Iran’s nuclear program by at least a year. The ambitious operation was to include a combination of precision airstrikes and commando raids—one that would require significant logistical and military backing from the United States.

But during an April 3 phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Trump made it clear he would not discuss Iran strategy over the phone. Instead, he invited Netanyahu for an in-person meeting at the White House. There, earlier this month, Trump firmly told the Israeli premier that the United States would not support a strike while negotiations with Iran were underway.

Sources within both governments say Netanyahu had hoped to secure Trump’s approval to move forward with the strike before U.S. Central Command head General Michael E. Kurilla concludes his tour of duty—timing that was considered crucial for operational success. American and Israeli defense officials had been quietly developing scenarios to ensure a potential mission could be carried out with Kurilla still at the helm.

But while some in the administration supported the idea of keeping the military option on the table—among them Gen. Kurilla and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz—others raised strong objections. Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, presented a fresh intelligence assessment warning that the visible U.S. military buildup could provoke a full-scale regional conflict with Iran, a risk the administration was unwilling to take.

Her warnings were echoed by several senior officials in closed-door strategy meetings, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Vice President JD Vance. They all expressed concerns about the likelihood of escalation and the limited effectiveness of the proposed operation, especially given that many of Iran’s most critical nuclear facilities are deep underground or heavily fortified, making them difficult to destroy with commandos alone.

Despite Netanyahu’s strong push—he had reportedly championed a hybrid option combining airstrikes with ground raids—Trump remained unmoved. He reiterated to Netanyahu during their White House meeting that America would not provide the necessary support, at least not while diplomatic talks with Iran were progressing.

The decision represents a calculated gamble by Trump, who is betting on his ability to extract a new deal from Tehran that would curb Iran’s nuclear capabilities without dragging the United States into another Middle Eastern conflict.

For Israel, the message is sobering: If it chooses to move forward, it may have to go it alone.