Trump tells Netanyahu not to strike Iran as U.S. pushes diplomatic window

Trump tells Netanyahu not to strike Iran amid rising tensions

In a high‑stakes call on Sunday, President Donald Trump warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold fire after Tehran launched missiles in response to an earlier Israeli strike on Beirut. Trump emphasized that the United States is “close to doing something good” in the form of a diplomatic breakthrough, urging restraint to preserve a fragile negotiation track.

“I call the shots. I call all the shots. He doesn’t call the shots,” Trump told Netanyahu, according to a senior U.S. official.

The Israeli leader pushed back, but according to the source, he pseudo‑agreed to pause any retaliation. The administration, which has not authorised the Beirut attack, is betting that a ↓ 24 hrs window could keep the talks alive.

Analysts note that any misstep now could jeopardize a deal that has been simmering for three months, a period the president described as the “fourth quarter” of a protracted diplomatic effort. Reuters and Bloomberg have flagged the call as calmer than last week’s heated exchange.

Even as the Middle East watches, Washington remains wary that the lingering shadow of the pandemic era could influence regional calculations, adding another layer of complexity to an already volatile tableau.