Trump says he hopes not to have to support Israeli attack on Iran

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he hoped a deal over Iran's nuclear program would make it so that the United States did not have to support an Israeli attack on Iran.

Asked by a reporter in the Oval Office whether he would support Israel striking Iran's nuclear facilities, Trump said: "Obviously, I'm not going to answer that question."

"It would really be nice if that could be worked out without having to go that further step ... Iran hopefully will make a deal, and if they don't make a deal, I guess that's okay too."

Without elaborating, Trump said he would be meeting various "very high-level people" in the coming days to discuss the Iran dossier.

Trump has long opposed foreign wars but has adopted a hard line on Iran, beefing up sanctions on its oil exports in his first term and pulling out of an international deal on Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

Iran has denied seeking a nuclear weapon but Israel has long contended that a bomb in the hands of its arch-enemy poses an existential threat.

Trump has previously said that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon but has also maintained Washington should not pursue regime change.

A correspondent from Israel's Channel 12 quoted a Trump administration official as saying Trump is opposed to the idea of an Israeli strike and believes in a deal.

The President is alarmed at the idea of an attack on Iran, Yaron Avraham cited the official as saying. "He will want to reach a very restrictive deal that would stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and he believes he can reach an understanding with Iran."

"Moreover, he believes the Iranians will run to the negotiating table under his leadership.”