JERUSALEM

The Israeli army's former chief-of-staff, Benny Grantz, has hinted that he worked to prevent a possible Israeli assault on Iran's nuclear facilities, Israeli media has reported.

In an interview with Israel's Channel 2 aired Sunday night, Grantz claimed that his input in discussions of the country's political leadership has swayed them to reconsider carrying out an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to Israeli news portal The Times of Israel.

"It never reached, ‘OK, take off and fly…I want to believe they listened and took into consideration what I have to say," Grantz told Channel 2.

According to Grantz, Israel's military command was against carrying out an attack on Iran, unlike the political leadership which seemed to favor the move.

"Despite the disagreement, the army would implement such a strike if ordered to do so by the political leadership," Gantz said.

In 2012, Israeli media purported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Ehud Barak came close to ordering a strike on Iran, according to Israeli Channel 7.

The plan was, however, abandoned after facing staunch opposition by then-Mossad chief Meir Dagan and then-chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi.