US President Donald Trump held a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday evening to discuss the escalating situation in Iran, Axios reported on Friday, citing two sources familiar with the conversation. During their first call on Wednesday, Netanyahu urged Trump to delay military action against Iran to allow Israel more time to prepare for possible Iranian retaliation, according to Axios, which added that Netanyahu’s request was among the factors that led Trump to postpone orders for the US military to advance with a strike.
US officials say military action remains an option if Iran resumes killing protesters, while Israeli officials assess that a strike could still occur in the coming days despite the temporary pause. Axios reported earlier that Netanyahu has dispatched Mossad Director David Barnea to the United States for consultations on Iran. Barnea is expected to meet White House envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami on Friday.
The report on the second phone call between Trump and Netanyahu was published before Trump was asked by reporters whether Arab and Israeli officials convinced him not to strike Iran, and replied, “No one convinced me. I convinced myself." (Read More)
