Israel could attack Iranian nuclear sites within hours, the newspaper has claimed

Israel has dismissed a report in the New York Times claiming that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to disrupt nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran by attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, calling it "fake news."

The article, published on Wednesday, cited unnamed officials who said Israeli leaders fear that US President Donald Trump might permit Iran to retain its nuclear enrichment capabilities - which Israel strongly opposes. The report also suggests that US intelligence believes Israel could launch a strike on Iran with as little as seven hours' notice, even if a diplomatic agreement is reached.

Netanyahu's office responded to the article with a brief statement: "Fake news."

According to the article, Israeli officials, including Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and Mossad head David Barnea, met with US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, among other officials, to express concerns over the negotiations.

The ongoing US-Iran talks aim to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, while lifting the sanctions Trump imposed in 2018, which he claims left Iran's economy on the brink of collapse. A major sticking point is Washington's demand for Iran to abandon its enrichment facilities, which Tehran refuses to do. The US and its allies have expressed concern about Iran's enrichment activities, which they fear could provide the country with a head start to quickly produce weapons-grade uranium.

On Monday, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem spoke to Netanyahu about the need for unity and patience in the negotiation process, saying Trump asked her to convey "how important it is that we stay united and let this process play out."

Israel is not a participant in the negotiations between the US and Iran. Despite the belligerent rhetoric, the US and Iran have held several rounds of talks in Oman which both sides have described as constructive. Witkoff noted, however, that while Washington seeks a diplomatic solution, it has a "very, very clear red line" of not "even 1% of an enrichment capability."

Iran currently enriches uranium to 60%, well above the 3.67% cap in the defunct 2015 nuclear deal and near weapons-grade levels. Tehran insists that its program is peaceful despite warnings from the US and Israel of an imminent nuclear breakthrough.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently called US demands to dismantle Iran's nuclear facilities "unrealistic" and vowed that enrichment would continue with or without a deal.

(RT.com)