Israel has delivered a clear message to the administration of President Donald Trump: it will not launch any military action against Iran as long as there is still a chance for a diplomatic resolution, according to a report by Axios. Israeli officials familiar with the matter said the assurance was conveyed during a recent high-level visit to Washington.
The Israeli delegation included Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, Mossad Director David Barnea, and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi. In meetings with their American counterparts, the Israelis emphasized that they do not intend to act unilaterally and would notify the White House in advance if military action were deemed necessary. “We reassured the Americans and explained there’s no logic in launching a strike if a good diplomatic solution is still on the table,” one Israeli official said.
Despite these assurances, concerns remain in Washington that Israel might be preparing for a strike regardless of the ongoing talks. According to White House sources, President Trump personally warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from taking any action while negotiations with Iran continue. Still, Trump made it clear that his position could shift at any moment: “It only takes one phone call if it becomes clear the talks are going nowhere,” he reportedly said.
Israeli officials added that recent military exercises by the Israel Defense Forces had been misinterpreted by the U.S. and other countries as preparations for an imminent strike on Iran. In fact, the drills were related to ongoing operations against the Houthis in Yemen and had no direct connection to Iran.
Meanwhile, the White House is still waiting for Tehran’s formal response to the latest proposal for a renewed nuclear agreement. President Trump had previously set a two-month deadline for a decision, which expires next week. On Wednesday, Trump accused Iran of “slow-walking their decision,” shortly after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei sharply criticized the U.S. offer. According to sources in Washington, no new round of negotiations between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled for this weekend.
In Jerusalem, Netanyahu has reportedly expressed skepticism about the likelihood of a breakthrough. Nevertheless, Israeli officials believe that Iran is not interested in letting the talks collapse entirely and will try to keep the diplomatic channel open. One Israeli official suggested that negotiations could drag on for several more months before Trump decides they have definitively failed.
