Israel was about to strike Iran’s nuclear program ‘as soon as next month’ but was stopped by Trump – report

Israel had concrete plans to strike the Iranian nuclear program as soon as next month but was stopped at the last moment by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a report published on Wednesday by the New York Times.

The authors of the report include Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman, who has often received leaked information from within Israel's security establishment. They spoke with multiple unnamed officials briefed on Israel’s secret military plans and confidential discussions in the Trump administration.

According to the report, Israeli security officials had created plans to strike Iranian nuclear sites this May, aiming to set back the weaponization process by at least a year, and were optimistic the U.S. would approve the plans.

The strikes would have been carried out by the Israeli Air Force. However, the expected fall-out of such a dramatic attack is expected to involve the U.S. military, as Iran is likely to retaliate against Israel as well as U.S. troops in the region.

Last week, Trump threatened to use military force if nuclear talks fail. “Israel will obviously be very much involved in that – it’ll be the leader of that,” he said.

Israel’s security establishment has mulled over potential attack plans against the nuclear program for years.

Most experts estimate that Israel’s planes and munitions are not powerful enough to destroy all the regime’s nuclear sites, some of which are located in hardened bunkers buried deep under mountains.

Effectively destroying all the sites would require heavy bombers and the largest bunker-busting bombs the U.S. has in its arsenal.

Netanyahu reportedly called Trump to discuss the strike plans on April 3, however, the president didn’t want to talk about the issue over the phone and instead invited Netanyahu to the White House.

There, the prime minister was told about the Trump administration’s surprise plans for the new diplomatic initiative with the Iranian regime, with Trump informing him that he wouldn’t support an attack in May while negotiations continue.

Last week, Trump sent CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Israel to continue discussions about various options for dealing with Iran.

According to the New York Times report, an initial Israeli plan envisioned a combined U.S.-Israeli attack in Iran, with Israeli commandos raiding nuclear sites on the ground while U.S. planes provided air cover.

However, the Israeli military cautioned that preparations for such an operation would not be completed until October, while Netanyahu reportedly wanted to strike earlier. This gave rise to another plan, including an “extended bombing campaign,” also with U.S. assistance.

The Israeli plans for attacking Iran have split the Trump administration, according to the report.

Tulsi Gabbard, the new director of national intelligence, presented an intelligence assessment warning that the recent military buildup, including a second aircraft carrier deployed in the region and several heavy bombers sent to Diego Garcia Island, could expose the U.S. to potential retaliatory attacks from Iran.

Other skeptics reportedly included White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Vice President JD Vance.

Vance allegedly argued that there was now a unique chance to make a diplomatic agreement and that the U.S. could still support an Israeli attack if negotiations failed.

On Thursday morning, a military source told Israel Hayom that the New York Times report harmed diplomatic efforts by depriving Israel of the threat of a military option.

"It was clear to everyone that there were preparations for an attack here, but the publication this morning is very unusual," said the source.

"We always prepare for everything. And this has nothing to do with this or that announcement. Who had an interest in leaking? Only the Americans."

"The Israeli political echelon has always left the military threat as an available option, and now Trump is essentially making it clear that he is the boss," the source added.

Following the report, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid criticized Netanyahu, noting that he proposed attacking Iran's oil fields last October but the prime minister was "afraid."

"Eliminating the Iranian oil industry would destroy its economy and ultimately bring down the regime," Lapid wrote on 𝕏.

National Unity party leader Benny Gantz expressed support for strikes against the Iranian nuclear sites.

“The Iranian Regime are experts at stalling. The State of Israel must, and can remove the prospect of Iranian nuclear capabilities,” he wrote on 𝕏.

“Coordinating closely with our great ally, the United States, it is time to change the Middle East.”

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also advocated strikes against Iran while also attacking Netanyahu, saying "Begin's doctrine on the nuclear issue was to strike and destroy – that was the case in Iraq, and also in Syria. Netanyahu's doctrine is to threaten, threaten, threaten, and then leak that he meant to act, but wasn’t allowed to."

"This is another dangerous conception that must not blow up in our faces," wrote Bennett, "There won’t be another opportunity like this."

The next round of talks between the U.S. and Iran is scheduled for this Saturday.