Netanyahu Denies Report of Trump Blocking Iran Attack

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refuted a report by the British newspaper Financial Times, which claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump prevented an Israeli strike on Iran. The report stated that Trump ordered Netanyahu not to proceed with an attack planned for the weekend of October 10th, approximately two weeks prior to the report's publication.

Netanyahu addressed the report in an interview with Channel 7, stating, "This report is incorrect. I will not go into correcting this biased report." He was asked if it was true that he had planned an attack and Trump had said "Don't."

The Financial Times report, citing three sources familiar with the matter, alleged that the Israeli military (IDF) had prepared for several days of combat against Iran, targeting civilian infrastructure such as power plants and nuclear facilities. The plan, reportedly pushed by Netanyahu, was halted due to Trump's opposition to resuming hostilities before the U.S. midterm elections.

According to the sources, the planned bombings were intended to be more intense than those in the "Operation Desert Storm" campaign. One source suggested that the U.S. and Israel might still resume conflict with Iran in the coming weeks, stating, "There will be a deal or an attack." Another source commented that "everything is on the table" regarding the Israeli government, and "nothing would surprise me."

Around the time of the alleged planned attack, President Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, "We are having productive conversations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. I want to make this clear to everyone, while Iran is in a bad situation, economically and militarily, and while the naval blockade remains in full effect. We will not attack Iran at any time before the midterm elections in the U.S. on November 3. Iran will not have nuclear weapons!"