Trump, Netanyahu hold phone talks after Iranian missile fire: Israeli state media
Jerusalem, June 8
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone on Sunday after Iran fired missile barrages at Israel in response to airstrikes in Beirut, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported.
Neither Netanyahu's nor Trump's office immediately commented on the call.
Before the call, Trump told Israel's Channel 12 News that he would tell Netanyahu not to strike back because he did not want US-Iran ceasefire negotiations to collapse, Xinhua news agency reported.
"What I would suggest to Iran: You've shot your missiles, that's enough," Trump told Fox News. "Get back to the table and make a deal."
Trump also claimed that Washington and Tehran had been close to reaching an agreement before Iran launched the missiles earlier in the day.
"We're very close. I would say an agreement would be signed on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of this coming week. And now this takes place," he said.
"It's certainly not going to help negotiations," Trump said.
In another interview with US media outlet Axios, Trump said he will call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and press him not to retaliate for Iran's missile attack.
"I am going to call Bibi right now and tell him not to retaliate. Each of them had their fun. Israel had its strike, and Iran had its strike. We don't need another one," Trump said.
According to CNN, Iran fired at least 10 ballistic missiles toward Israel in at least three separate waves on Sunday. The Israeli military said all of the missiles were intercepted.
Two Israeli sources cited by CNN said Israel would deliver a "powerful" response to the attack, raising concerns about further escalation in the region.
The Israeli military said Sunday night that Iran has so far fired four missile barrages towards the country.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The missiles have triggered sirens across northern Israel.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Netanyahu should really think twice. Retaliation will only drag everyone into a larger mess. Trump's advice to not strike back actually makes sense—but Netanyahu is stubborn like that. 😒
Iran intercepted all missiles? That's a bold claim. But honestly, who intercepts 10 ballistic missiles without any damage? Something doesn't add up. And Israel's threats of a 'powerful' response—this is like a Bollywood movie where everyone acts tough but nobody wins.
Trump saying 'they've shot their missiles, that's enough' is like a cricket captain asking the bowler to stop bowling after one over. The problem is, once you start firing, it's hard to stop. The world needs de-escalation, not more TV statements.
As an Indian, I watch this with utter caution. We have our own border tensions, and any flare-up in the Middle East affects our energy prices and diaspora. Trump seems clueless about ground realities—you can't just 'tell' Netanyahu to calm down while Iran is getting bolder by the day.
Trump's claim that a deal was close is laughable. Iran and the US have been at loggerheads for decades. Maybe he thinks a phone call can fix everything? 🤦♂️
J We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.