Thursday, April 17, 2025 - U.S. President, Donald Trump blocked an Israeli plan to launch a strike on Iranian nuclear sites, The New York Times reported on Wednesday, as efforts intensify to revive negotiations aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
The United States and Iran, which have not maintained
diplomatic relations for over four decades, are currently engaged in talks to
establish a new nuclear agreement, following Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015
landmark deal during his first term in office.
According to the report, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff
and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are scheduled to meet in Rome on
Saturday, marking the highest-level nuclear negotiations between both nations
since the collapse of the original accord.
In March, Trump reportedly sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme
Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, proposing direct talks but warning of potential
military action if diplomatic efforts failed to yield results.
Senior Trump administration officials told The New York
Times that Israel had approached Washington for support in carrying out an
attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, with the plan under review for several
months
However, during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s
recent visit to the White House, Trump informed Israeli officials that he would
not endorse the strike. Instead, he publicly announced the resumption of direct
negotiations with Tehran.
Iran has repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons, though
it has ramped up its nuclear activities following the U.S. withdrawal from the
2015 deal.
The latest report from the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) expressed “serious concern” over Iran’s nuclear stockpile,
revealing that the country possesses approximately 274.8 kilograms of uranium
enriched up to 60% purity — a level approaching weapons-grade.
0 Comments