WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump inquired about possible options for attacking a nuclear site in Iran during a meeting with top advisers last week, multiple news outlets are reporting.
The New York Times, citing “four current and former U.S. officials,” reported Monday that the discussion occurred Thursday during a meeting in the Oval Office. Vice President Mike Pence, Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley warned Trump against taking military action, saying such a strike could provoke further conflict, the Times reported. Following the meeting, a strike no longer appeared to be under consideration, officials told the newspaper.
EXCLUSIVE: Trump asked top aides about military strikes to stop Iran from expanding its nuclear program. His advisers said don't do it. w/@maggieNYT, @sangerNYT, @helenecooper, @jakesNYT https://t.co/mjWUaoYPUz
— Eric Schmitt (@EricSchmittNYT) November 17, 2020
The Wall Street Journal, also citing unnamed officials, later confirmed the Times' report.
Trump asked aides about potential options for striking an Iranian nuclear site after a U.N. agency disclosed that Tehran had expanded its supply of low enriched uranium, officials said. Several senior advisers dissuaded him from pursuing those options. https://t.co/lKnyVpGE6V
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) November 17, 2020
The meeting came one day after the International Atomic Energy Agency reported Iran has stockpiled 12 times more uranium than what the 2015 nuclear deal had allowed, according to the Times. Trump withdrew from that agreement three years later, the newspaper reported.
President-elect Joe Biden has said he supports bringing back the Iran nuclear deal, with conditions, according to the Journal.
Cox Media Group