Netanyahu, Trump discuss possible renewed fighting against Iran over phone
Jerusalem, May 18
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump discussed the possibility of renewing fighting against Iran over phone, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported.
The broadcaster, citing a senior Israeli official, said the United States is expected to carry out attacks jointly with Israel if it resumes the war against Iran, Xinhua news agency reported.
Later in the evening, Netanyahu convened a cabinet meeting, during which the multiple fronts on which Israel is fighting were discussed, a government official told Xinhua.
The developments came after Trump signaled that Washington could escalate its confrontation with Iran, warning in a post on his social media platform that "for Iran, the clock is ticking, and they better get moving, fast, or there won't be anything left of them."
Iran, the United States and Israel reached a ceasefire on April 8 after 40 days of fighting that started with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.
Following the truce, Iranian and US delegations held one round of peace talks in Pakistan's Islamabad on April 11 and 12, which failed to yield an agreement.
Over the past weeks, the two sides have reportedly exchanged several proposed plans outlining conditions for ending the conflict through Pakistani mediation.
Meanwhile, Trump warned that if Tehran failed to reach a peace agreement with the US, it would face "a very bad time".
"If they don't, they're going to have a bad time. A very bad time. They had better make a deal," Trump told French media. He also shared an AI-generated graphic of him and a US Navy admiral in front of stormy waters, and the line: "It was calm before the storm."
It comes after Trump spoke to Benjamin Netanyahu about Iran on Sunday as the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu held a security meeting with his cabinet, Israeli media reports.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As an Indian, I find it troubling how quickly the US and Israel pivot from negotiations to military action. That AI-generated graphic Trump shared is frankly unsettling—it glorifies war. Meanwhile, the people of Iran and the region suffer. We need more peacemakers like India, not more aggression. 🤷♀️
I get that Iran is a problem, but Trump's approach feels like a strongman act—lots of bluster, little substance. The ceasefire was barely a month old. Netanyahu and Trump seem to be playing with fire. From a neutral perspective, India should continue pushing for dialogue in forums like the UN.
Look, I support Israel's right to defend itself, but this constant cycle of violence helps no one. The fact that they are already discussing 'renewed fighting' shows a lack of genuine interest in peace. India has a balanced foreign policy—we should be using our ties with all parties to calm things down. 🇮🇳
Every time I see headlines about Trump and Netanyahu, it feels like a replay of 2020. The 'calm before the storm' AI graphic is just propaganda. Why can't they sit down and negotiate like adults? India has always believed in dialogue—this saber-rattling is a waste of lives and resources. 😤
I can't help but think this is all about domestic politics for both leaders. Netanyahu is fighting corruption charges, Trump wants a foreign policy win. Iran is a convenient scapegoat. But as someone who has seen the damage of war in the Middle East, this is reckless
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.