US President Donald Trump has waved off Israel's planned airstrike on Iran's nuclear facilities—and in favor of talks with Iran on a deal to limit its nuclear program, according to US administration officials and several others, reports The New York Times.

According to media reports, Israel developed plans to attack these facilities in May—and saying the objective is to limit Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons for a year or more.

And US assistance was needed not only to protect Israel from Iranian retaliation, but also to ensure the success of this attack, The New York Times notes.

After months of internal debate, however, Trump decided to negotiate with Iran rather than support military action.