(Image source from: x.com/WhiteHouse)

President Donald Trump of the United States has prohibited Israel from launching attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and has urged Tel Aviv to re-engage in dialogue with Tehran. As reported by The New York Times, officials from the US administration and those familiar with the issue indicated that Israel was ready to take action as soon as May, anticipating support from the United States. Trump's stance was reportedly reached after extensive internal discussions about whether to endorse military action or favor negotiation. Although Israel had devised numerous contingency plans to impede Iran's nuclear advancements for at least another year, these strategies largely depended on substantial US involvement to both ensure success and shield Israel from potential Iranian counterattacks. In recent weeks, Trump conveyed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US would not endorse such military actions. During Netanyahu's visit to Washington on April 7, the two leaders convened in the Oval Office, where Trump revealed the initiation of indirect discussions with Iran.

After this meeting, Netanyahu issued a statement in Hebrew asserting that any agreement with Iran must entail the complete dismantlement of its nuclear infrastructure "under American supervision with American execution." Israel had been contemplating a military strike in May, following substantial losses of influence in the region. Iranian missile assaults in April had failed, Hezbollah forces had suffered significant setbacks due to Israeli operations, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria—an ally of Iran—had been ousted, and key missile fuel facilities in both Iran and Syria had been destroyed. Initially, Israel planned a complex operation involving special forces targeting underground nuclear sites alongside an extensive bombing campaign. However, these commandos would not be ready until October, prompting Israeli officials to seek faster alternatives, which still required US assistance.

While the US President opted against supporting a military strike at this time, he indicated that military action could be considered if diplomatic efforts fail. He stated, "If it requires military, we’re going to have military. Israel will, obviously, be the leader of that." Privately, Trump informed Netanyahu that military support would not be provided while diplomatic negotiations were in progress. Nonetheless, he dispatched CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Jerusalem for further discussions. Ratcliffe met last week with Netanyahu and Mossad chief David Barnea to explore different strategies, such as covert Israeli operations or implementing stricter sanctions. The decision by Trump's administration to take a measured approach was influenced by new intelligence from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who cautioned that a US-backed assault might lead to a broader conflict in the region.

The United States had previously deployed significant military assets to the area, which included two aircraft carriers, sophisticated missile defense systems, and B-2 bombers capable of targeting underground facilities. Formally, the purpose of this deployment was to combat Houthi fighters in Yemen. However, the strategic positioning of these assets also aimed to prepare for a potential conflict between Israel and Iran. In a shift from historical tensions, Iran has recently indicated a willingness to engage in indirect discussions. In March, Trump had delivered a letter proposing direct talks. Although Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, initially dismissed this proposal, a high-ranking Iranian official later expressed a readiness for mediated conversations. Vice President JD Vance contended that Trump possessed a distinctive chance to achieve a significant breakthrough. He suggested that if Iran were to delay or withdraw from negotiations, the United States could then back military actions by Israel.