Netanyahu, after call with Trump, urges strike on Iran after U.S. midterms

[Financial News] U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone about the intensity of military operations against Iran and when to resume them, foreign media reported on the 1st (local time).
The U.S. political outlet Axios, citing U.S. and Israeli officials, reported that the two leaders discussed the status of negotiations with Iran in a call on the 31st. During the call, Netanyahu strongly pressed Trump to launch an immediate military attack on Iran as soon as the U.S. midterm elections, scheduled for the 3rd, were over. But according to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, Trump was said to have maintained that they should wait a while longer to see how diplomatic negotiations progress.
An Israeli official described the tone of the call as “a rough conversation,” while a U.S. official said there had been “a very direct exchange of views,” suggesting substantial differences between the two leaders.
By contrast, the Israeli daily The Times of Israel reported that Trump described his call with Netanyahu as “a very good conversation.”
Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu is concerned that U.S.-Iran contacts mediated by Qatar could ease pressure on Iran, while Trump does not want Israel involved in diplomatic efforts.
The call between the leaders took place shortly after Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s security chief, disclosed that he had received a letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance proposing that the two countries resume their stalled dialogue. As diplomatic efforts within the Trump administration to resolve the Iran crisis clash with Israel’s call for early military intervention, attention is turning to the future course of events in the Middle East.

[email protected] Yoon Jae-joon Reporter