Netanyahu Calls Trump ‘Every Day’ to Push for Renewed U.S. Strikes on Iran, Financial Times Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been calling U.S. President Donald Trump every day to press for renewed military strikes against Iran, even as Washington and regional governments pursue negotiations to end the nearly nine-month conflict, according to the Financial Times.

A person briefed on the discussions told the newspaper that Netanyahu’s repeated calls had prompted opposition from figures inside and outside the White House who want to prevent another escalation.

“The regional leaders are telling him not to escalate and prioritize negotiations,” the person said.

Another source familiar with the situation in Israel confirmed Netanyahu’s desire for renewed military action but disputed that there was currently a coordinated campaign to persuade Trump.

The Israeli leader’s pressure contrasts with diplomatic efforts by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, whose leaders have urged Trump to give negotiations more time.

Following talks with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on November 9, Trump described diplomatic efforts as having “positive momentum” and said renewed U.S. strikes against Iran appeared “quite unlikely.”

Mediators are seeking an interim agreement under which Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for relief from the U.S. naval blockade, permission to export oil and the release of some frozen assets. Disagreements over the sequencing of those measures and Iran’s highly enriched uranium remain unresolved.