Trump Moves to Block Netanyahu’s Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Sites

May 24—Sources close to the White House confirm that CNN was "leaked" classified reports of intercepts detailing Israeli preparations for a strike on Iranian nuclear sites. The leak appears to be a deliberate move to prevent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu from proceeding with the attack.

According to these sources, Israeli plans for the strike—potentially moving forward regardless of ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations on a new nuclear agreement—are now "off the table."

"The move by U.S. intelligence to effectively publicize Israeli plans was a big blow to Bibi," said a source. "It once again demonstrates that President [Donald] Trump prioritizes his agenda over Netanyahu’s push for a regional war. Trump wants peace through negotiation. Netanyahu, who has claimed Iran is the source of all evil, can never accept a deal with them and was lying to the President about his willingness to do so. The leak shows Trump knew Bibi was lying, and more importantly, it signals to the Iranians that he is serious about making a deal. It also shows them what the consequences might be if they block an agreement."

The source added that Iran’s rhetoric about not responding to threats holds true only to a point. "The President strongly believes that it is in Iran’s interest to come to an agreement," the source stated. "They do not want a war of any kind, especially one that might be triggered by an enraged Bibi. Now, they can see that he was putting plans in place for a strike. Trump is offering the olive branch, and they had better take it. The White House’s assessment is that they are getting ever closer to a deal, and the CNN report [released May 22] made it possible for yesterday’s talks to focus on that deal, with alternatives spelled out."