WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace denied a printed report that ousted nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz had “intensive contact” with him to push for the obliteration of Iran’s nuclear websites quite than discover a diplomatic answer — apparently infuriating President Trump.
“Contrary to the Washington Post report, PM Netanyahu did not have intensive contact with Mike Waltz on Iran,” the workplace stated in an announcement Saturday hours after the outlet cited unnamed sources claiming the ex-Florida pol was eager on the US pursuing navy motion towards Tehran’s nuke websites.
“PM Netanyahu had a warm meeting with Mike Waltz and Steve Witkoff at Blair House in February prior to the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Trump at the White House,” Netanyahu’s group added.
“Mike Waltz also joined VP JD Vance in a meeting with the PM before leaving Washington. Since then, the PM, the former National Security Advisor and Steve Witkoff had one phone conversion that did not deal with Iran.”
The assertion cuts towards feedback from a senior White Home official, Trump adviser and different unidentified sources who claimed to WaPo the previous Inexperienced Beret wasn’t simply ousted for having added a journalist to a personal, Cupboard-level Sign chat discussing strikes on Houthi terrorists but additionally due to his hawkish stance on Iran.
One of many sources stated Waltz “wanted to take US policy in a direction Trump wasn’t comfortable with because the US hadn’t attempted a diplomatic solution.”
“It got back to Trump and the president wasn’t happy with it,” the supply stated.
On Tuesday, the then-national safety adviser advised The Put up that the president had been clear about pursuing “all options,” navy or in any other case, to halt Tehran’s regime from getting a nuclear bomb.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and the president has been there repeatedly and he is absolutely serious about it,” Waltz stated.
However Trump additionally advised Time journal final week the US won’t be “dragged in” to a warfare with Iran as his officers — together with Particular Presidential Envoy for the Center East Steve Witkoff — focus on methods to forestall the theocratic regime from enriching sufficient uranium to make the weapon.
“He may go into a war. But we’re not getting dragged in,” Trump stated of Netanyahu. “I may go in very willingly if we can’t get a deal. If we don’t make a deal, I’ll be leading the pack.”
The president additionally batted down earlier studies that he “stopped” Netanyahu from launching strikes on Iran’s uranium enrichment websites.
“I didn’t make it comfortable for them, because I think we can make a deal without the attack,” he famous. “I hope we can. It’s possible we’ll have to attack because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.”
“I didn’t make it comfortable for them, but I didn’t say no,” he added. “Ultimately I was going to leave that choice to them, but I said I would much prefer a deal than bombs being dropped.”
In February, the UN’s nuclear watchdog warned that Tehran’s uranium enrichment was nearing weapons-grade ranges.
In April, Netanyahu stated if it weren’t for his previous actions, “Iran would have had a nuclear weapon 10 years ago.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio succeeded Waltz as performing nationwide safety adviser on Thursday, turning into the primary cupboard official to carry each titles since Henry Kissinger, who served in that capability from 1973 to 1975 below former President Richard Nixon.
Trump appointed Waltz as his nominee for US ambassador to the UN the identical day.
“From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first,” the president posted on his Fact Social. “I know he will do the same in his new role.”
“We congratulate Mr. Waltz on his important appointment to the UN,” Netanyahu’s workplace additionally stated of their assertion.
Reps for the White Home, Waltz and Witkoff didn’t reply to requests for remark.
