WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from retaliating against Iran following Tehran’s missile attack on Israel, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.
Trump made the request during a telephone conversation with Netanyahu on Sunday, as Iran launched a barrage of missiles toward Israeli targets in response to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah positions in Beirut, officials said. Israel later conducted airstrikes on Iranian targets early Monday.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump pressed Netanyahu to hold off on further military action to preserve ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a deal with Iran. Trump told reporters he planned to convey that “Israel had its strike, and Iran had its strike. We don't need another one,” according to reports.
The exchange marked the most serious breach of a fragile ceasefire established in April following months of conflict. Most Iranian missiles were intercepted by Israeli defenses, with no immediate reports of casualties in Israel, Israeli officials said. Details on damage from Israel’s subsequent strikes in Iran remained limited.
Trump, speaking from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, emphasized the need for de-escalation. “We are very close to a final deal with Iran. It is going to be a good deal,” he said, according to accounts of his comments.
Israeli officials have not publicly confirmed the content of the call. Netanyahu’s office had no immediate comment on the reported request, according to media reports. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the missile attack, describing it as retaliation for Israeli actions.
The developments come amid broader U.S.-led efforts to negotiate an end to hostilities involving Iran, Israel and regional actors including Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump has indicated openness to easing certain sanctions if Iran returns to the negotiating table.
Casualty figures from the latest exchanges were not immediately available. Both sides have reported limited damage in previous rounds of strikes, with numbers attributed to their respective statements.
As of Monday, no further major strikes were reported. Diplomats continue to monitor the situation closely, with the White House stating that recent actions would not derail broader peace talks. Iran has condemned the Israeli strikes while Israel described its operations as targeted at military sites.
The Trump administration has described the diplomatic track as the preferred path forward.
