President Trump warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that reigniting a full-scale war with Iran could leave Israel without American backing as negotiations over a broader peace agreement continue.
“I told Bibi, ‘you better be very careful what you do, because you could be left alone against Iran very soon,’” Trump told Israel’s Channel 12 on Monday.
The warning came after Iran and Israel exchanged missile strikes over the weekend, marking the 100th day of the conflict that began on Feb. 28.
According to Trump, Iranian officials signaled they were willing to accept a cease-fire with Israel if he could persuade Netanyahu to stop further military action.
Trump then contacted the Israeli leader directly and stressed that a potential agreement with Tehran was within reach and that he would not allow renewed fighting to derail it.
An administration official told The Post that the White House did not view Iran’s latest missile launches as evidence that Tehran intended to return to full-scale war.
Netanyahu ultimately opted not to escalate further after Iran publicly announced it would halt attacks on Israel.
The Israeli prime minister, however, stopped short of promising an end to operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. In a statement, Netanyahu said Israel would hold fire on the “Iran front” while the Israeli military warned residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate ahead of expected strikes against Hezbollah targets.
Israel has also refrained from launching additional attacks on Beirut, which Iranian officials have repeatedly described as a red line.
“If the evil Zionist-American coalition makes another mistake, the region will become hell for it! Peace be upon the martyrs of Dahiya,” Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said in a statement.
Trump had already urged restraint Sunday after Iran launched missiles toward Israel, personally calling Netanyahu and asking him not to retaliate.
According to a source familiar with Netanyahu’s thinking, the Israeli leader viewed that conversation as “more of a request than a demand.”
During the call, Netanyahu argued that Israel had a right to respond and warned that failing to do so could weaken deterrence against Tehran. Trump reportedly pressed him to keep any response limited.
The following morning, Iran reportedly contacted Washington through intermediaries to propose a cease-fire, prompting Trump to once again reach out to Netanyahu and encourage him to stand down.
The developments come as negotiations continue over reopening the Strait of Hormuz and launching formal talks regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
Vice President JD Vance said Monday that Iran is beginning to present serious proposals but cautioned against assuming Tehran is acting in good faith.
“We’re going to take the attitude of accomplish the president’s mission, but verify over the long term that the Iranians are keeping their end of the bargain,” Vance told Fox News. “If we get this deal, it’s going to be a home run for the American people.”
“Let’s be honest, the Iranians don’t want this war to continue. It’s not in their best interests,” he added.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government has been helping facilitate communications between Washington and Tehran, also expressed optimism that a breakthrough may be near.
“The recent surge in violence in the Middle East is a stark reminder of the dangers associated with a tenuous ceasefire and the unbearable consequences it may lead to,” Sharif wrote on X. “As we work earnestly and painstakingly, together with our brothers and partners, to find a peaceful diplomatic solution to the conflict, and especially when the final objective is just about to be achieved, we sincerely urge all sides to exercise restraint and give peace a little more chance.”
Despite the optimistic rhetoric, significant obstacles remain.
Iranian sources told The Post that Tehran is still demanding sanctions relief and access to billions of dollars in frozen assets before agreeing to enter formal nuclear negotiations.
The Trump administration has repeatedly rejected that position.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress last week that sanctions relief would only be considered if Iran made meaningful progress on its nuclear program. He also stressed that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran claimed Monday that it had reopened the vital shipping lane, but only for vessels willing to pay a transit fee.
The Trump administration has consistently rejected any arrangement that allows Iran to charge tolls for passage through the international waterway.
“Despite the aggressive war by the United States and the Zionist regime against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the restrictions resulting from the war, PGSI is striving to provide safe passage for commercial vessels in cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the Persian Gulf Strait Authority said in a statement.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian nevertheless indicated that diplomatic discussions remain active.
“Diplomacy and defense are the two wings of national power; we have neither abandoned the field nor the negotiating table,” Pezeshkian wrote on X. “Our priority is national security and the peace of our people. We will defend the rights of the nation with authority and will not retreat in the face of any threat.”
The post Trump Scolds Netanyahu In Testy Phone Call: ‘You Could Be Left Alone Against Iran Very Soon’ appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
