Israel Denies News Of Attacking Iran's Nuclear Facilities

JAKARTA - Israel denied news of the New York Times (NYT) which said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to interfere with negotiations on the nuclear deal between the United States and Iran by attacking Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility.

Netanyahu's office issued a statement in response to the news saying: "False news."

"The New York Times report on this matter is comprehensive and based on discussions with people who know the matter firsthand. We remain confident in what we publish," a NYT spokesperson said in an email.

Citing officials briefed on the situation, the newspaper said Israeli officials were concerned that US President Donald Trump was eager to reach an agreement with Iran so he would allow Tehran to maintain its nuclear enrichment facility, which is a red line for Israel.

Israel is in particular concerned about possible interim deals that will allow Iran to maintain its nuclear facilities for months or even years while the final deal is reached.

The report said US officials feared Israel could decide to attack Iran without warning, and said US intelligence expected Israel could launch an attack on Iran within just seven hours.

The newspaper said Netanyahu's strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer and David Barnea, head of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency, met with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff in Rome on Friday.

The two then traveled to Washington for a meeting Monday with CIA director John Ratcliffe before the Dermers met Witkoff again on Tuesday.

One of the main points in debate over talks between US officials and Iran is the US pressure on Iran to hand over its nuclear enrichment facility, a demand Iran has rejected.

On Monday, US Interior Minister Kristi Noem said she had had a "very honest conversation" with Netanyahu over negotiations with Iran.

Noem said he told the Israeli prime minister Trump had asked him to convey "how important it is for us to stay united and let this process go."

Trump did not visit Israel on his trip to the Middle East this month and has made policy announcements that shake Israel's assumptions about his relationship with the US. Netanyahu has dismissed speculation about disputes with the US government, while Trump has also dismissed all allegations of a rift in relations.