You may find yourself alone facing Tehran

In an exclusive interview with Israeli Channel 12, US President Donald Trump revealed the scenes of a dramatic phone call that took place between him and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prior to the recent Israeli attack on Iran.

Trump explained that he had issued a stern warning to Netanyahu of the consequences of sliding into a wide regional war, assuring him that he might find himself alone in confronting Tehran if he did not exercise extreme caution.

While the US President indicated his success in reducing the size of the Israeli strike and eventually stopping it after regional contacts and signs of calm from Iran, he stressed that Washington is still seeking to conclude a comprehensive diplomatic agreement with Tehran.

Decision details

The report stated that the US President asked Netanyahu, during extensive telephone consultations that took place last night, not to respond to the Iranian missile attack. While that call ended without a clear resolution from the Israeli side, Netanyahu immediately entered into a closed security discussion with the leaders of the Israeli defense system, after which he returned and informed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio of his final decision to proceed with striking Iran.

Trump described the moment of the Israeli military implementation, saying: “We informed the Israeli side of the attack at a very late stage, as the planes were already on their way to Iran, but I was able to intervene and reduce the scope and size of this strike.”

Behind the scenes of regional mediation

In terms of behind-the-scenes diplomatic moves, Trump indicated that five countries from the region that are contributing to the calm efforts between Washington and Tehran have put pressure on the White House to demand that Israel stop the attacks.

The US President revealed the turning point that led to calming the situation, saying: “This morning, the Iranians contacted us and officially confirmed that they would not launch any further attacks on Israel, and asked us to intervene to stop the Israeli strikes. Accordingly, I contacted Netanyahu and pushed him to stop immediately.”

Good deal

Trump concluded his speech by emphasizing that the US administration is still focused on the diplomatic track, stressing that Tehran shows a clear and tangible desire to sign an agreement with Washington, and described this track as leading to a “good deal” that guarantees the stability of economic and security interests in the region.