President Donald Trump said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Iran on Saturday, as he weighs whether to return to all-out war after the midterm elections taking place today, November 3.
Donald Trump talks about Netanyahu conversation amid Iran war
Trump described the call in positive terms when he spoke to reporters on Sunday. “Just had a very good talk with him; we had a very good talk,” he said. He confirmed the two leaders discussed Iran but offered no further details. At a rally in Iowa on Sunday, Trump said that “the only reason why I’m not finished with Iran is I want to be nice. I want to try and save all those lives if I can.” He added: “But at some point we’re going to have to give them the hammer.”
Those remarks have heightened concerns across the Persian Gulf that strikes on Iran will soon resume. Netanyahu is reportedly pressing for another wave of strikes on Iran after the midterms. One official claimed the Israeli prime minister is working with senior U.S. administration officials to persuade Trump to launch a quick but extensive air campaign. The president does not appear to have made a decision.
Furthermore, a person briefed on the weekend call alleged Netanyahu pressed for strikes, but Trump would not commit to military action. A return to full-scale war could also help Netanyahu form an emergency government after he and his far-right allies lost their parliamentary majority in last week’s Israeli elections (via ABC7).
Meanwhile, Qatari mediators held two rounds of talks with Iranian officials last week, and more are planned this week. The officials claim mediators are working on a framework in which Iran would stop attacks in the Strait of Hormuz in return for the U.S. lifting its blockade on Iran’s ports. Other U.S. allies in the Middle East are warning against new strikes.
