Axios (“Trump tells Netanyahu not to strike Iran“):
President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday not to retaliate against Iran’s missile attack and allow more time for diplomacy, according to a senior U.S. official and an Israeli source familiar with details of the call.
[…]
Trump told Netanyahu during the call to hold off because “we are close to doing something good in terms of a deal,” according to the U.S. official. Netanyahu pushed back but ultimately “pseudo agreed” to stand down, the official said.
The official said Sunday’s call was calmer than last week’s tense exchange between the leaders and that Trump did not raise his voice at Netanyahu. “We think the president bought a little bit of time. He is pretty adamant that we are close to a deal with Iran. I don’t think anything is imminent in terms of an Israeli strike,” the U.S. official said.
[…]
Trump told the Financial Times that Netanyahu “won’t have any choice” but to accept any deal the U.S. secures from negotiations with Iran. “I call the shots. I call all the shots. He doesn’t call the shots,” Trump said of Netanyahu.
Reuters (“Israel hits Iran petrochemical plant in new strikes after Trump reprimand“):
Israel said on Monday it hit a petrochemical plant in Iran’s southwest, along with strikes elsewhere on military targets, after U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from further attacks.
The escalation complicates U.S.-led efforts to broker a broader deal with Iran, driving oil prices up by nearly 5%, with benchmark Brent futures back above $97 a barrel.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps blamed the U.S. for the latest exchange of fire with Israel and said further attacks on non-military and energy targets would have consequences for the global economy.
Donald J. Trump, Truth Social, earlier this morning:
For some reason, I’m reminded of a memorable line from Zathras. (Or was it Zathras?)
Great war. Terrible war. Much killings. Everyone fighting. A great darkness. It is the end of everything. Zathras warn, but no, no one listens to poor Zathras, no.
