US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he recently advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against taking action that could jeopardise ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran, reports Reuters.
Speaking at the Oval Office, Trump said, "I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we're very close to a solution."
This development comes as tensions simmer between Israel and the US over the direction of the Iran nuclear talks. According to The New York Times, Israeli officials have been deeply concerned that Trump's administration might strike a deal allowing Iran to maintain its nuclear enrichment facilities – an outcome Israel deems unacceptable.
The report also highlighted that Israel rejected claims it was considering pre-emptive strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, dismissing such reports as "fake news". However, US intelligence assessments reportedly estimate that Israel could launch a strike within seven hours if it chose to act.
Amid the back-and-forth, key Israeli officials, including Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad chief David Barnea, have been engaging with US counterparts. Meetings reportedly included discussions with CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Despite concerns of a rift, both sides downplayed tensions. Netanyahu's office brushed off speculation about strained US-Israel relations, while Trump maintained his administration remained committed to a unified approach with Israel.
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