As Trump Seeks Iran Deal, Israel Again Raises Possible Strikes on Nuclear Sites

The New York Times ^ | May 28, 2025Updated 8:48 a.m. ET | Julian E. Barnes, David E. Sanger, Maggie Haberman and Ronen Bergman

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wary of a diplomatic solution to curbing Iran’s nuclear program, continues to press for military action that would upend President Trump’s push for a negotiated deal.

As the Trump administration tries to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has been threatening to upend the talks by striking Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facilities, according to officials briefed on the situation.

The clash over how best to ensure that Iran cannot produce a nuclear weapon has led to at least one tense phone call between President Trump and Mr. Netanyahu and a flurry of meetings in recent days between top administration officials and senior Israeli officials.

Mr. Trump said on Sunday that there could be “something good” coming about his effort to limit Iran’s nuclear program in the “next two days.”

Others familiar with the negotiations said that at best there would be a declaration of some common principles. The details under discussion remain closely held and would likely only set the stage for further negotiations, starting with whether Iran could continue to enrich uranium at any level, and how it would dilute its stockpiles of near-bomb-grade fuel or ship them out of the country.

The New York Times reported in April that Israel had planned to strike Iranian nuclear sites as soon as this month but was waved off by Mr. Trump, who wanted to keep negotiating with Tehran. Mr. Netanyahu, however, has continued to press for military action without U.S. assistance.

Israel is not a participant in the negotiations between the United States and Iran. At the core of the tension between Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Trump is their differing views of how best to exploit a moment of Iranian weakness.

In October, Israel destroyed key elements of Iran’s strategic air defense system,...

[Harpotoo]

Good cop, bad cop strategy I’m assuming

[forYourChildrenVote4Bush]

The world will be better off without nuclear Iran

Iran gets nuclear weopons then I guarantee a nuclear war will happen in our lifetime

[beethovenfan]

Trump will get nothing from the mullahs. Israel will have to act soon.

[monkeyshine]

I think so too... but you never know, and the media and pro-Hamas people will say this is Israel trying to screw up American policies and drag us into war or something like that.

Personally I don’t think Israel is capable of taking out Iranian nuclear sites. Only we can do that, with the heavy bombers and the 20k and 30k bombs. Israel doesn’t have either the planes or the bombs. If Israel does go in with F-35s it will be (IMHO) to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of Iranian air defenses. Personally I think the Iranian air defenses were already weak and got weaker after the last two Israeli retaliatory raids. If Israeli F-35s can go in and out of Iranian airspace with impunity it would suggest that the US is “safe” going in with the heavy bombers. Doesn’t mean we will go in, just exposes the Iranian weaknesses and adds negotiating leverage.

[monkeyshine]

20K and 30K POUND bombs I meant. Not the number of bombs, the size. The MOABs.

[dennisw]

Israel must have a few nuclear bunker busters that will take out Iran’s nuclear facilities. Or bury them under rubble. These are light enough to deliver by airplane of (big maybe) by missile. Not much fallout from these.

Nukes taking out nukes.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Israel will have to act soon.

People have been saying exactly this for literally decades.

Could it be Israel is still waiting to spill American blood and treasure instead of Israeli blood and treasure?

[Texas Fossil]

For clarity?

Trump may bomb the Nuke manufacture site, but he will not detonate a Nuke on the site.

Conventional Bunker Buster Bombs will do the job.

[DIRTYSECRET]

*Good cop, bad cop strategy I’m assuming*

Very true. Methinks the US will be the good cop and let Israel take care of Iran but only after looking like the ‘I tried’ party.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I wish we’d leave the Middle East to the Middle East -— instead of squandering our blood and treasure there.

[painter]

How long will it be before some dristrct
Judge issues an injunction trying to stop Trump from doing it!!

[JusPasenThru]

Good/bad indeed. Plausible deniability. “We tried to tell Bibi to chill, gosh darn it”.

[Mlheureux]

Iran is bent on destruction. They will never tell the truth or stop their destruction. Let Israel take them out 100%.

[beethovenfan]

Iran has not had the material for a nuclear bomb for decades. They do now.
Israel will do what it has to do for its survival. The US will not be involved.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Israel will do what it has to do for its survival. The US will not be involved.;

I want to believe this more than you know, but I do not. ---

.

[montag813]

But why is he "seeking an Iran deal"? I just don't get it.

[tennmountainman]

Iran is playing Trump for a fool.