Netanyahu Calls Trump ‘Every Day’ to Push for Renewed Iran Strikes

A person briefed on the discussions told the Financial Times that the Israeli prime minister “calls him every day” to urge a resumption of the war, and that figures inside and outside the White House who oppose renewed fighting have been trying to counter that pressure.

“The regional leaders are telling him not to escalate and prioritise negotiations,” the source said, according to a recap by Anadolu Agency.

The account has not been confirmed on the record by the White House or by Netanyahu’s office. WION reported that the White House declined to comment on the lobbying claim.

A Conflicting Account From Israel

Another person familiar with the situation in Israel told the newspaper that Netanyahu wants military action against Iran to resume, but that there was not currently a coordinated “push” to persuade Trump.

Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister after last month’s inconclusive elections. The Financial Times said he has called for renewed U.S.-Israeli strikes aimed at forcing the collapse of Iran’s government.

The report follows an earlier account, covered by Clash Report, that Netanyahu pressed Trump in a “tough” and “direct” Saturday call to strike Iran immediately after the U.S. midterms, while Trump wanted to give negotiations more time.

Trump Calls Renewed Strikes ‘Quite Unlikely’

Trump said on Monday there was “positive momentum” toward ending the nearly nine-month war and that renewed U.S. attacks now appeared “quite unlikely,” after talks at the White House with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

“We are seeing positive momentum toward an end to this Conflict,” he wrote on Truth Social.

He said Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait “and others would prefer the status quo,” which he described as a continuation of the U.S. naval blockade and Operation Iron Gate. The United States was “locked and loaded” and ready to go if conditions changed, he wrote. “At this point, however, that seems to be quite unlikely.”

A diplomat briefed on the meeting, which also included Vice President JD Vance, said there was agreement that “diplomacy is the preferred way forward to get a deal.”

A day earlier, Trump told CNN that a return to major strikes was “highly unlikely” if Tehran signed “a very strong agreement”, tying that outlook to nuclear talks and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Regional Leaders Urge Diplomacy

According to the Financial Times, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani have spoken with Trump in recent days to urge him to give diplomacy more time.

The newspaper said Arab and Muslim leaders have been alarmed by Netanyahu’s lobbying. Regional governments fear renewed fighting could trigger a broader Iranian response and deepen instability across the Middle East.

Iran has warned that it is prepared to respond to any renewed attacks and could expand the conflict beyond the region.

Mediators have for weeks been trying to break a deadlock over an interim arrangement based on a seven-day plan Iran presented in September, which Trump previously rejected. Sequencing and the fate of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile remain in dispute.