US President Donald Trump said Thursday he was not eager to take military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, emphasizing that diplomacy remains his preferred path, with emerging reports claiming he discouraged an Israeli strike.

In response to a New York Times report claiming he had "waved off" Israeli plans to target Iranian nuclear infrastructure, Trump clarified: "I wouldn’t say ‘waved off.’"

He continued, "I’m not in a rush to do it because I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country. That’s my first option."

Trump also warned of the consequences if diplomacy fails. "If there’s a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran, and I think Iran wants to talk. I hope they want to talk."

The remarks come amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and speculation about potential military scenarios. While the Israeli occupation has signaled its readiness to act independently against perceived "threats" from Tehran, the US president’s comments suggest a desire to avoid escalating the situation into open conflict.

'Israel' prepared to attack Iran: NYT

The NYT report in question, published Wednesday, said "Israel" had been prepared to launch an offensive targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and was counting on US backing. However, Trump halted the operation, favoring a deal amid the ongoing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.

Israeli officials had told the US that the strike could delay Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions by at least a year. But, as the Times noted, “all Israeli plans would have required US help in carrying out the attack and defending Israel from Iran’s response.”

The decision followed “months of internal negotiations” within the Trump administration over whether to opt for diplomacy or stand firmly behind "Israel’s" military ambitions, the newspaper added.

UN nuclear chief: Iran close to bomb capability

Meanwhile, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi has warned that Iran is “not far” from having the capability to produce a nuclear bomb, just before landing in Tehran on Wednesday for high-level discussions and amid "Israel's" repeated threats of carrying out strikes against the Islamic Republic.

Speaking to Le Monde, Grossi compared Iran’s nuclear progress to assembling a puzzle: “They have the pieces, and one day they could eventually put them together," he claimed. While he acknowledged that Iran hasn’t reached the finish line, he cautioned, “They’re not far off, that has to be acknowledged.”