Israel assured U.S. it won't strike Iran unless talks fail

Israel has assured the White House that it will not launch an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities unless President Trump indicates that negotiations with Iran have failed. The Trump administration had been concerned that Israel was preparing to strike despite ongoing talks. President Trump cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against making a move while talks are still taking place, but said his stance could change if he feels the talks are going nowhere. Israel conveyed its reassurance during a visit to Washington by top officials, making it clear that they won't surprise the Trump administration with a military strike. The Israelis are willing to give diplomacy a chance and wait until it's clear that negotiations have been exhausted. The Israel Defense Forces are training for a possible strike, but the US and other countries misread recent measures as preparations for an imminent strike. The White House is still waiting for Iran's response to its proposal for a nuclear deal, with Trump accusing Iran of "slow-walking their decision". Trump's two-month deadline for a deal will expire next week, and US officials don't expect a new round of talks to take place this weekend. Netanyahu is skeptical about the chances of a US-Iran nuclear deal, but Israeli officials think Iran will make an effort to prevent the talks from collapsing, which could take several more months.