Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied reports that US President Donald Trump blocked a planned Israeli military offensive against Iran earlier this month, calling the account incorrect.Asked about the report in an exclusive interview with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News, Netanyahu said: “It’s an incorrect report. One day, the truth will come out.”Further maintaining hiss tance, he added, “But the truth comes out all the time. You know, all these fake reports, they burn out, they fizzle out fairly quickly. Because eventually, the facts come out.”The denial comes with reference to a Financial Times report that Israel had prepared for a fresh, more extensive bombing campaign against Iran on October 10, but abandoned the plan after Trump opposed it.Citing three people familiar with the plans, the newspaper reported that the proposed operation would have targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, power plants, civilian infrastructure and sites linked to the regime. The campaign was expected to be more intense than the joint US-Israeli strikes carried out in February.According to the report, Trump was concerned about the economic consequences of renewed hostilities, particularly rising energy prices, ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections. It remained unclear whether the proposed operation would have involved direct American military participation.The reported plan comes amid uncertainty over diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran, with disagreements over Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions and restrictions on Iranian ports complicating negotiations.The political stakes are also rising for Trump. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published on October 20 put his approval rating at 31 per cent, its lowest level in the survey, amid concerns over fuel prices and the cost of living. Democrats held a 47 per cent to 35 per cent lead over Republicans among registered voters ahead of the midterms.
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