President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that he personally asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week to delay any military strike against Iran, citing progress in US-led nuclear negotiations with Tehran.
“I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because we’re very close to a solution,” Trump said at a White House press briefing.
“Now, that could change at any moment,” he added. “It could change with a phone call. But right now, I think they want to make a deal. And, if we can make a deal, it would save a lot of lives.”
Trump suggested a nuclear agreement could emerge “in the next couple of weeks,” emphasizing his push for a diplomatic agreement that would stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He added that the situation could be resolved “with a very strong document.”
The remarks come as tensions escalate between Iran, Israel, and the US, as Israel reportedly weighs preemptive strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Despite the mounting pressure, Trump continues to maintain that diplomacy remains the best path forward.
Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency acknowledged the potential for a deal, stating that the US-Iran negotiations reflect “a willingness to come to an agreement,” while cautioning that “the jury is still out.”
Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, involved in mediating the talks, reported “some but not conclusive progress” last week after a fifth round of negotiations. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed the complexity of the discussions, expressing cautious optimism that “in the next one or two rounds… we can reach solutions that allow the talks to progress.”