In a dramatic pivot that may reshape the strategic calculus across the Middle East, US President Donald Trump has reportedly overruled Israeli proposals for a coordinated military strike on Iran&rsquo;s nuclear facilities, instead pursuing a diplomatic path. According to The New York Times, the Israeli government had presented detailed plans for a joint offensive with the United States, to be launched in May, aimed at significantly delaying Tehran&rsquo;s nuclear ambitions.
The report suggests that internal divisions within the Trump administration, along with emerging signs from Tehran indicating a possible willingness to engage in direct talks, influenced the White House&rsquo;s decision. Trump's refusal to greenlight the operation culminated in an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Washington. Days later, Trump publicly confirmed the opening of direct negotiations with Iran.
Israeli plans reportedly required US operational involvement both for the execution of the attack and for post-strike defence against inevitable retaliation. The collapse of this initiative has left Jerusalem diplomatically exposed at a time of heightened regional tension.
The Israeli strikes that did follow&mdash;allegedly targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure and high-ranking military officials&mdash;have triggered a rare, unified outcry across the Middle East. In an unusually synchronised chorus, nations traditionally divided by ideology, rivalry, and alliance structures, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and Lebanon, all condemned the Israeli action.
Riyadh denounced the strikes as &ldquo;heinous,&rdquo; placing moral and legal responsibility squarely on the international community and the UN Security Council to halt what it views as unprovoked aggression. This is particularly significant given Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s recent rapprochement with Iran after decades of sectarian rivalry. The UAE, despite being a signatory to the Abraham Accords and maintaining diplomatic ties with Israel, issued one of its strongest rebukes to date. Qatar, strategically essential to the US due to its hosting of the largest American military base in the region, condemned the strikes as a violation of Iran&rsquo;s sovereignty. Oman, a key regional mediator, termed the Israeli move &ldquo;reckless.&rdquo;
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, navigating a delicate balancing act amid Hezbollah&rsquo;s grip on Lebanese politics, described the Israeli action as a violation of both international norms and Iranian sovereignty, warning of consequences that could destabilise not just the Middle East, but global peace.
 The unified Arab condemnation of Israel's strikes&mdash;despite lingering rivalries and divergent alliances&mdash;signals an emerging recalibration in Middle Eastern geopolitics. While short-term solidarity may not translate into a formal bloc, the rhetoric suggests a growing preference for regional diplomacy over confrontation. Shared Muslim identity and the principle of sovereignty are converging points, especially after the Iran-Saudi thaw. However, structural divisions and US dependency among Gulf states still complicate cohesive action. For now, this convergence appears symbolic&mdash;but it might plant the seeds for a future multilateral framework to defend regional interests beyond sectarian lines.

Conference of Organization Islamic Cooperations

Middle East unites to condemn Israel's unilateral action, as Trump opts for Iran diplomacy

Trump Rejects Israeli Call for Iran Joint Strike

Middle East unites to condemn Israel's unilateral action, as Trump opts for Iran diplomacy

June 13, 2025 | 14:45 IST