U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly blocked an Israeli plan to launch a strike on Iranian nuclear sites, according to The New York Times on Wednesday. This comes as efforts to revive negotiations aimed at limiting Tehran’s nuclear capabilities intensify.
The U.S. and Iran, which have not had diplomatic relations for over four decades, are currently engaged in talks to negotiate a new nuclear agreement after Trump withdrew from the 2015 landmark deal during his first term.
The report states that U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are scheduled to meet in Rome on Saturday. This will mark the highest-level nuclear negotiations between the two nations since the collapse of the original accord.
In March, Trump reportedly sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, proposing direct talks but warning of potential military action if diplomacy failed.
According to senior Trump administration officials, Israel had sought Washington’s support for an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, with the plan under review for several months.
However, during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent visit to the White House, Trump informed Israeli officials that he would not endorse the strike. Instead, he publicly announced the restart of direct negotiations with Tehran.
Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons but has expanded its nuclear activities since the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 agreement.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently expressed “serious concern” over Iran’s nuclear stockpile, revealing that the country now holds about 274.8 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity — a level nearing weapons-grade.
