U.S. President Donald Trump says he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week to back off plans to strike Iran.
Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, Trump, when asked by a reporter if he had warned Netanyahu against taking any actions that would disrupt the nuclear talks, confirmed: "I'd like to be honest, yes, I did,” adding, "It's not a warning. I said I don't think it's appropriate."
Reports emerged Monday that a phone call last Thursday between Trump and Netanyahu was tense and “full of arguments.”
Trump was reported to have told Netanyahu that he wanted to pursue a diplomatic solution with Iran and believed he would be able to reach a deal.
The New York Times reported that Netanyahu allegedly threatening Trump with derailing the ongoing talks by striking Iranian nuclear facilities.
Netanyahu’s office later released a statement denying the report.
Multiple media reports have also emerged over the last week stating that Israel is planning an attack on Iran, with American intelligence agencies reportedly believing that the chances of an Israeli strike on Iran are very high.
Trump has recently described the latest round of indirect talks between Washington and Tehran as going “very good” despite the apparent impasse between the two sides over whether Iran may retain its nuclear enrichment capabilities—something Tehran has said repeatedly is non-negotiable.
While Netanyahu’s and Trump’s positions on Iran’s nuclear program appear to align in regard to enrichment, they seem increasingly at odds over whether to conduct military strikes on Iran.
Trump’s initial 60-day deadline to reach a deal—which he set when he sent a threatening letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in March—has expired. Support for an attack on Iran remains unpopular among Trump’s voting base, with some of his supporters in and outside of Congress cautioning him against such action.