NYT's investigation reportedly revealed that Mossad arranged secret meetings in Budapest, funded his housing and travel, and moved him to a safe house in Tehran before he abandoned the plan and was reportedly placed under house arrest in Iran.
American officials said the latest military operation was intended to weaken Iran's ability to target merchant vessels and civilian sailors travelling through one of the world's busiest energy shipping routes.
US President Donald Trump has warned Tehran that "1000 missiles are locked and loaded" to destroy Iran if any assassination attempt is made against him.