Jerusalem: The US and Israel delayed a planned strike on Iran by one week due to operational and intelligence considerations, media reports said on Sunday. The opening strike had originally been prepared for Feb. 21, four days after a second round of US-Iran talks ended on Feb. 17 without significant progress.
According to Anadolu Agency, the go-ahead was not given. US and Israeli officials cited bad weather in the region as one key factor. "There was a weather thing," one Trump administration official said, adding that weather concerns were "more on the mind of the Israelis." A second Israeli official indicated that the delay was driven primarily by the US side and related to better coordination with the Israeli army.
The strike was designed to target Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his sons, as well as gatherings of senior Iranian officials, including a routine Saturday meeting. During the week-long delay, intelligence officials reportedly grew concerned that Khamenei could move to an underground bunker. One Israeli intelligence official mentioned that the US and Israel wanted to "signal that there was no imminent strike" so that Iranian leaders "would feel safe."
The delay also allowed for one more round of nuclear talks in Geneva on Thursday. US officials said President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff presented a final proposal that included a 10-year moratorium on Iranian uranium enrichment, followed by symbolic enrichment capacity, and an offer to supply free nuclear fuel for civilian needs. A US official mentioned the team was "very explicit about" using military force if Iran rejected the proposal. Axios claimed that Iranian officials declined the offer.
"There was a concerted effort to negotiate in good faith, including in Geneva," a US official said. "But nothing came of it. And we had our assets ready to go. So, the president decided to strike." The joint US-Israeli attacks have killed several senior Iranian officials since Saturday, including Khamenei. In response, Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf countries, resulting in the deaths of three US service members and serious injuries to five others.