Trump will ask Netanyahu not to respond to Iran's attacks to prevent negotiations from failing
The president said that talks with Tehran are close to reaching an agreement and warned that a military escalation could put that process at risk.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that he will speak with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to ask him not to retaliate against Iran after the missile launch this Sunday.
According to statements given to journalist Barak Ravid and published by Axios, the US president considered that an Israeli retaliation could compromise the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran. "I'm going to call Bibi right now and tell her not to fight back. Each of them had their moment. Israel had their attack and Iran had theirs. We don't need another one," Trump said.
The statement came after Iran launched several missiles against Israeli territory, in what represented the first direct attack of this type since the ceasefire reached in April. The Israel Defense Forces reported that the projectiles were intercepted and that no casualties were reported.
Trump insists that an agreement with Iran is close
The US president maintained that talks with Iran are at an advanced stage and expressed concern about the impact that recent events could have on the diplomatic process.
"We are very close to a final agreement with Iran. It will be a good agreement. I don't want it to explode because of what is happening now," he declared.
Trump also downplayed the impact of the Iranian missiles and called on Tehran to return to the negotiating table. In statements to Fox News, he noted that the attack “will not help the negotiations,” although he reiterated his willingness to continue seeking an understanding with the Islamic Republic.
Tension grows between Washington and the Israeli government
The statements come amid signs of disagreement between Trump and Netanyahu over the handling of the regional conflict. Over the past few weeks, the US president has sought to contain Israeli military actions that US officials say could affect diplomatic efforts with Iran.
According to recently published reports, Trump had already pressured the Israeli government to stop bombing in Beirut and avoid an escalation that would cause the suspension of talks with Tehran.
Meanwhile, warnings of a possible response continue from Israel. Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, reacted to the Iranian attack with a message posted on social networks in which he stated that “Tehran should burn tonight.”
The situation keeps the region on alert and threatens to further complicate the negotiations promoted by Washington to reach an agreement with Iran and avoid a new military escalation in the Middle East.