Trump and Netanyahu discuss possible next steps in Iran conflict

The conversation comes as Netanyahu pushes for immediate military action against Iran following Tuesday's U.S. midterm elections. Trump, however, currently favors allowing diplomatic negotiations to continue, a position that has reportedly raised concerns in Israel.

An Israeli source described the conversation as "tough," while a U.S. source characterized it as "direct. " Neither the White House nor Netanyahu's office commented on the call. Diplomatic Efforts and Military Preparations.

Trump is pursuing parallel diplomatic and military strategies, similar to his approach before Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025 and Operation Epic Fury in February. His administration is seeking a potential agreement with Tehran while preparing for the possibility of renewed large-scale military operations after the midterm elections.

Last week, Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to Iranian national security chief Mohsen Rezaei, signaling Washington's interest in restarting negotiations. The communication marked the highest-level U.S. outreach to Iran in several months. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump said negotiations with Iran were "going fine" and emphasized that he was not "in much of a hurry.

"Although he acknowledged that Iran appeared interested in reaching an agreement, Trump questioned Tehran's reliability, saying Iranian officials had previously reached agreements before backing away from them. The president also indicated that potential military action against Iranian nuclear facilities remained under consideration.

"We can do that in 10 minutes. We have that planned," Trump said, specifically mentioning Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear facility in Iran. Qatar Pushes for Renewed U.S.-Iran Negotiations.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continued in Qatar, where mediators met Iranian officials on Sunday for the third consecutive day. The discussions aim to establish an agreement that would allow direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran to resume.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no agreement had been reached so far, emphasizing that progress depends on Washington addressing Iran's outstanding questions. "We are making every effort in this regard and hope that the other side will demonstrate enough rationality to choose diplomacy over other paths," Araghchi said.

The latest developments highlight the competing diplomatic and military approaches surrounding the Iran conflict, as Washington weighs further negotiations against preparations for possible renewed military action.