President Trump blocked a planned Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, opting instead to pursue a deal to limit Tehran’s nuclear programme, the New York Times reported Wednesday, citing U.S. officials.
Israel had developed plans to attack the sites in May, according to the newspaper, which added that the goal was to set back Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon by a year or more.
The New York Times said U.S. assistance was required not just to defend Israel from Iranian retaliation but also to ensure the attack was successful.
‘Positive’, ‘Constructive’ Talks
After months of internal debate, Trump made the decision to seek negotiations with Iran rather than support military action.
The U.S. and Iran held talks in Oman last Saturday – the first time during a Trump administration, including his 2017-2021 first term. Both countries described the talks as “positive” and “constructive”.
A second round is scheduled for Saturday, and a source briefed on the planning said the meeting was likely to be held in Rome.
‘Technical Malfunction’
Meanwhile, an Israeli fighter jet dropped a bomb close to the Israeli community on the Gaza border on Tuesday, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) describing it as a ‘technical malfunction’.
The bomb fell close to the Nir Yithzak kibbutz adjacent to southern Gaza, media reports said.
“A short while ago, a munition fell from an IDF fighter jet that was on its way to a mission in the Gaza Strip. The munition landed in an open area near Nir Yitzhak due to a technical malfunction,” the Israeli military said in a short statement, as quoted by CNN.
The IDF did not clarify the type of bomb.
A spokesman for Nir Yitzhak told the American news channel that the bomb landed in the village’s farm area.
Nir Yitzhak was one of the areas that was attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
(With inputs from Reuters)
