Israel assured U.S. it won't strike Iran unless talks fail
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Trump and Netanyahu at the White House. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Israel has reassured the White House that it won't launch an attack against Iran's nuclear facilities unless President Trump signals negotiations with Iran have failed, two Israeli officials with direct knowledge tell Axios.
Why it matters: The Trump administration has been concerned in recent weeks that Israel is preparing to launch a strike despite the ongoing talks, and President Trump said he cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against making his move while talks are still taking place.
- But Trump also said his stance "could change with a phone call" if he feels the talks with Iran are going nowhere.
Behind the scenes: Israel conveyed the message of reassurance during a visit to Washington last week by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Mossad Director David Barnea and National Security Adviser Tzahi Hanegbi, Israeli officials say.
- One official said the Israelis made it clear to their U.S. counterparts that Israel won't surprise the Trump administration with a military strike on Iran.
- "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 said.
- A senior Israeli official said that while the Israel Defense Forces are training all the time for a possible strike against Iran, the U.S. and other countries misread measures the IDF took ahead of strikes against the Houthis in Yemen as preparations for an imminent strike against Iran.
State of play: The White House is still waiting for Iran's response to its proposal for a nuclear deal. Iranian officials said the response is now being drafted.
- Trump accused Iran on Wednesday of "slow-walking their decision" hours after Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei criticized the U.S. offer.
- Trump's two-month deadline for a deal will expire next week, according to the White House's interpretation of that timeline.
- U.S. officials say that for now, a new round of talks between Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is not expected to take place this weekend.
What to watch: Netanyahu told Trump he's skeptical about the chances of a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal, an Israeli official said.
- The Israeli official thinks that, regardless of the gaps in the negotiations with the U.S., the Iranians will make an effort to prevent the talks from collapsing.
- "It could take another several months of negotiations before Trump decides it has failed," one Israeli official said.
