At a Glance

• Axios reports that U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed Iran during a phone call on Saturday.

• According to Axios, Netanyahu pushed for strikes immediately after the U.S. midterm elections, while Trump favored allowing negotiations to continue.

• Trump later confirmed the call, describing it as a “very good talk” and saying Iran was among the topics discussed.

• Reported diplomatic efforts include a letter from Vice President JD Vance seeking to revive stalled talks and a Qatari delegation’s visit to Tehran.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the timing of potential renewed strikes against Iran and the status of negotiations with Tehran during a Saturday phone call, Axios reported, citing one U.S. official and one Israeli official.

Key Statements and Focus Areas

Axios Reports Differences Over Military Action

According to Axios, Netanyahu pressed Trump to launch strikes against Iran immediately after the U.S. midterm elections, while Trump preferred to give negotiations more time.

Axios quoted the Israeli official describing the call as “tough” and the U.S. official characterizing it as “direct.”

Trump later confirmed that he had spoken with Netanyahu on Saturday.

“Just had a very good talk with him,” Trump said, adding that Iran was among the topics discussed.

Trump Says Negotiations Are Progressing

Trump told reporters on Saturday that negotiations with Iran were “going fine.” He also said there were still one or two targets to “take care of,” while arguing that Washington had already severely weakened Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities.

Diplomatic Efforts to Resume Talks

The reported call followed disclosures by Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei that he had received a letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance seeking to revive stalled negotiations.

Iranian state media also reported that a Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday for talks with Iranian officials.

Axios reported that Trump and Netanyahu discussed the state of negotiations with Tehran and when, or whether, military operations against Iran should be intensified. The report, citing one U.S. official and one Israeli official, points to differing views over the timing of possible renewed strikes.

According to Axios, Netanyahu favored launching attacks immediately after the U.S. midterm elections, while Trump was inclined to allow diplomatic efforts more time to produce results. The report did not establish that a decision to launch new strikes had been made.

Trump subsequently confirmed the conversation, describing it as a “very good talk” and acknowledging that Iran was discussed.

Throughout the eight-month conflict, Trump has pursued parallel military and diplomatic approaches, combining attacks against Iranian targets with efforts to reach an agreement that could support peace negotiations and restore full access through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas shipments.

The reported contacts involving Vance and Qatar point to continued attempts to restart negotiations. However, the details and prospects of those efforts remain unclear.

The conflict also carries domestic political implications for Trump, as rising fuel prices and broader cost-of-living pressures weigh on U.S. voters ahead of the midterm elections.

FYI

Axios’s account highlights a reported difference between Washington’s preference to leave room for negotiations and Netanyahu’s push for a defined timetable for military action. Any escalation could further affect regional security and energy markets, particularly shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while the approaching U.S. midterm elections add domestic political pressure.

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