From the Liveblog of
Sunday, August 2, 2026
‘Israel was supposed to be part of Iran strike’ — US official
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
US President Donald Trump backed off from a massive attack on Iran around 24 hours before it was supposed to begin, Channel 12 reports.
Planning for the attack began on Wednesday, a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump in the White House, according to the report.
The US Central Command prepared an attack plan on Iranian energy infrastructure. “Israel was supposed to be part of the plan,” a US official tells Channel 12.
Israel told the US that if the attack did not significantly damage Iranian economic and regime targets, there would be no point in carrying it out.
On Friday and Saturday, the Qataris engaged in intensive talks with Iran, the US, and Oman to try to head off the attacks and open the Strait of Hormuz, per the report.
They told Trump yesterday that they needed another day to reach a solution with Iran, and he agreed. Later in the day, Qatar told Trump that Iran agreed to a proposal to open the strait.
Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman called Trump to urge him not to strike, and Trump then posted on Truth Social that he was calling off the attack and that Iran had agreed to open the strait and end its nuclear program.
The Times of Israel Community.