U.S. President Donald Trump blocked a proposed Israeli military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier this year, opting instead to pursue direct negotiations aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.
The report, citing U.S. officials and others briefed on the matter, said Israel had prepared plans to attack Iranian sites in May. The goal was to delay Iran’s nuclear programme by at least a year. However, the operation required U.S. backing, not only to support Israel’s defence in the face of Iranian retaliation but also to ensure the mission’s success.
Trump, after months of internal debate, ultimately rejected the military option, instead directing his administration to explore a diplomatic track.
That decision paved the way for the first direct talks between the United States and Iran during Trump’s presidency. The two sides met in Oman last Saturday and described the discussions as "positive" and "constructive."
A second round of talks is expected on Saturday, with Rome being considered as the venue, according to a source briefed on the planning.
The Trump administration has since signalled that any deal with Tehran would need to include stringent limits on uranium enrichment and increased international inspections — conditions similar to those in the 2015 nuclear accord, which Trump withdrew from during his first term.
Officials familiar with the discussions said Israel has not formally abandoned its military planning but is now recalibrating its approach following Washington’s shift.
The White House has not commented publicly on the New York Times report.
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Pakistan has indicated its openness to forming a regional bloc with Bangladesh without including India. The statement from Islamabad follows comments by Bangladesh’s top foreign affairs adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, that such an arrangement is strategically possible without India.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will visit Turkmenistan on 11–12 December to attend the International Peace and Security Forum in Ashgabat.
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Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their tensions through dialogue and engagement, as it pledged to work with the international community to help improve relations between the two countries.
Iran's President Massoud Pezeshkian has begun a two day visit to Kazakhstan, with officials from both sides describing the trip as an opportunity to advance cooperation in trade, transport, industry, mining and cultural exchanges.
Ukraine has presented the U.S. with a revised 20-point framework to end its war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday, adding that the issue of ceding territory remains a major sticking point in negotiations.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is scheduled to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump later in the day, as border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand continued for a fifth day, he said on Friday.
The White House has confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump intends to maintain both a “good working relationship” with China and a “very strong alliance” with Japan, even as tensions between the two countries continue to rise.
Pakistan has indicated its openness to forming a regional bloc with Bangladesh without including India. The statement from Islamabad follows comments by Bangladesh’s top foreign affairs adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, that such an arrangement is strategically possible without India.
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