US President Donald Trump said he had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off from striking Iran as he voiced optimism about nuclear talks his administration is holding with Tehran.
Trump, asked if he had told Netanyahu in a call next week not to take any action that could disrupt the diplomacy, said: “Well, I’d like to be honest, yes, I did.”
Pressed on what he told the Israeli premier, Trump replied: “I just said I don’t think it’s appropriate, we’re having very good discussions with them.”
He added: “I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we’re very close to a solution.
“I think they want to make a deal, and if we can make a deal, save a lot of lives.”
Tehran and Washington have in recent weeks held five rounds of talks focused on the issue — their highest-level contact since Trump in 2018 withdrew from a previous deal negotiated by former president Barack Obama.
Trump, on a visit to Qatar earlier in May, voiced optimism at reaching a new agreement with Iran that avoids military conflict.
