An adviser to President Donald Trump said his statements in the lead-up to the attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities were a “headfake” meant to deceive Tehran. Washington and Tel Aviv deployed a similar strategy in the run-up to Israel’s own surprise attack on Iran. 

Axios reported on Monday that Trump’s statement that he would decide “within the next two weeks” to strike Iran came after the president had already ordered the attack on the Islamic Republic. “It was a headfake,” a Trump adviser told the outlet. “He knew the media couldn’t resist amplifying it. He knew the Iranians might think he was bluffing. Well, everyone was wrong.”

A second source, another adviser, confirmed the public remarks were a deception. “The president wanted to buy time,” they told the outlet. “He knew what he wanted to do. And he knows he can’t look eager for war. So all the folks in MAGA urging restraint gave him some space.”

American officials told Axios that Trump remained open to a diplomatic solution that would have led him to call off the attacks. However, the president was demanding Tehran’s unconditional surrender and Israel had already launched bombing raids by that time.

Iranian officials did say Tehran was willing to return to the table if Washington forced Tel Aviv to call off its offensive war.

While Axios reported that the operation and public relations in the run-up to the attack were planned by Trump, Israeli officials speaking with the Jerusalem Post claimed Tel Aviv significantly influenced the US attack on Iran.

The sources told the Post that Trump informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the impending attack days before American bombers struck Iranian nuclear facilities. After Trump told Netanyahu that he planned to strike the Fordow uranium enrichment plant, Netanyahu convinced the president to expand the attack to two more Iranian nuclear sites.

Additionally, the sources said Israeli intelligence was used for targeting in the strikes.