📰 8 sources 10 articles · 22 Oct 2026, 01:16 → 22 days ago

Trump halted an Israeli plan to strike Iran; Netanyahu denies and says he won't seek a green light

A report carried by the Financial Times, citing three informed sources, said US President Donald Trump halted a plan by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attack Iran on October 10, targeting power stations, nuclear facilities and regime-linked targets. Netanyahu denied the reports, said he would brief Trump on what Israel intends to do but would not ask him for a green light, and that Washington has not imposed a ban on strikes against Iranian targets.

📍 Where things stand: Debate continues over the halting of the plan: Netanyahu denies any US ban and says he will not seek a green light, while sources cited by the Financial Times say Trump halted the plan and that any new attack remains tied to his approval.

⏱️ Timeline

22 Oct 2026, 01:16 A report by Al-Ghad channel said US President Donald Trump obstructed a plan by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike Iran again, without further details in the available text.
22 Oct 2026, 09:46 In an interview with Channel 7 Hebrew, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied a report that Israel had recently planned to attack Iran and that Trump obstructed the move, saying the report was incorrect and declining to give further details.
22 Oct 2026, 10:43 The Financial Times, citing three informed sources, reported that Trump halted a plan by Netanyahu to attack Iran on October 10, about two weeks before the Knesset elections, targeting power stations, nuclear facilities and regime-linked targets. Deputy Knesset Speaker Akram Hasson said the plan aimed to strike the foundations of Iran's economy, and that any new attack remains tied to Trump's approval; Trump said he is "studying the plan now".
22 Oct 2026, 11:53 Netanyahu denied reports that Trump had recently prevented him from launching an attack on Iran, describing them as biased and incorrect.
22 Oct 2026, 12:56 Netanyahu said he would brief US President Donald Trump on what Israel intends to do but would not ask him for a green light to strike Iran. He added that he issued a directive that the only acceptable solution is toppling the regime in Iran, and that Israel crushed its opponents in Gaza, Lebanon, Tehran and Iran and completed 90 percent of the mission, after saying on Wednesday that toppling the Iranian leadership is an explicit goal.
22 Oct 2026, 14:09 A report by Asharq Al-Awsat addressed the postponement of a wide Israeli bombing campaign against Iran that had been scheduled for October 10 after Trump's objection, amid military preparations and differences over the timing of using force. Experts said the US and Israeli elections may affect timing more than targets, and that Trump's decision remains the most influential factor, with negotiations remaining an alternative path.
22 Oct 2026, 14:18 Netanyahu affirmed that Trump did not prevent him from launching an attack on Iran, indicating that the US administration has not imposed a ban on Israel carrying out strikes against Iranian targets, amid rising regional tensions and questions about the limits of US-Israeli coordination.

Timeline written by AI from the sources below; updated as new reports arrive.

⚠️ Sources disagree

Trump halting the Israeli plan to attack Iran

Citing three informed sources: Trump halted a plan to attack Iran on October 10 according to آخر خبر
Citing three informed sources: Trump halted a plan to attack Iran on October 10 according to سكاي نيوز عربية
Netanyahu: Trump did not prevent him from attacking Iran and the US administration imposed no ban according to صوت الإمارات

Figures as each outlet reported them at the time. We do not judge which is correct; numbers often change as events develop.

How the sources covered it

Several outlets focused on the behind-the-scenes details of the plan, its targets and timing, citing the Financial Times and Deputy Knesset Speaker Akram Hasson, while others centered on Netanyahu's statements denying any US ban and his assertion that he would not seek a green light; Asharq Al-Awsat offered an analytical reading focused on the timing of the decision and its factors.

قناة الغد It limited itself to reporting that Trump obstructed Netanyahu's plan to strike Iran again, without details on the nature, timing or targets of the plan.
المترجم احمد المقادمة It presented the news through Netanyahu's denial in a Channel 7 Hebrew interview, without addressing the plan's details reported elsewhere.
آخر خبر It led with the Financial Times details that the plan was halted on October 10, about two weeks before the Knesset elections, listed the plan's targets, and quoted Deputy Knesset Speaker Akram Hasson and Trump's remark that he is "studying the plan now".
سكاي نيوز عربية It combined the Financial Times details with Akram Hasson's statement that the plan aimed to strike the foundations of Iran's economy, then later turned to Netanyahu's remarks that he would not seek a green light and that Israel had completed 90 percent of the mission.
lebanon debate It focused on Netanyahu's statements, reporting his denial describing the reports as "biased and incorrect", then his affirmation that he would brief Trump on plans without seeking a green light.
صوت الإمارات It led with Netanyahu's affirmation that Trump did not prevent him from attacking Iran and that the US administration has not imposed a ban on strikes against Iranian targets, in the context of regional tensions and US-Israeli coordination.