Netanyahu's Office Comments on Reports of Attack on Iran

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied a report by the New York Times which stated that during a conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Netanyahu, the latter threatened to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. According to The Jerusalem Post, the U.S. expressed concern that such strikes could jeopardize negotiations regarding Tehran's nuclear program. Netanyahu's office called the report "fake news".

The phone call between Trump and Netanyahu took place following gunfire in Washington that resulted in the deaths of two employees of the Israeli embassy.

A senior White House official indicated that Trump told Netanyahu he wants a diplomatic solution with Iran and "does not want anything to interfere with that process." The official added that Trump's message to Netanyahu was that "now is not the time to escalate the situation as long as he is trying to resolve issues." Trump also mentioned that "the second option is still on the table," but he prefers to first see if a diplomatic resolution is achievable.

The senior official further noted that during the call, "President Trump advised Netanyahu to act cautiously." It is recalled that while the Trump administration is trying to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran, Netanyahu is reportedly preparing to strike Iran's uranium enrichment facilities and disrupt the negotiations.

The media reports that the United States is concerned Israel might strike Iran without prior warning, thus undermining U.S. diplomatic efforts. According to U.S. intelligence, Israel could execute an attack within seven hours after a command is given by Netanyahu. Israel and the United States have significant differences in their positions regarding Iran's nuclear program.