Netanyahu and Trump discussed a possible new phase in the war against Iran
The telephone conversation between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump took place on the eve of a closed-door meeting of the Israeli Security Cabinet devoted to the war with Iran.
Israeli media reported that the parties discussed the possibility of a new phase in the conflict with Tehran, as well as Trump’s recent visit to China.
According to Channel 12, the US president told Netanyahu that, in his view, Iran was still interested in reaching an agreement, but that Washington was prepared to take tough action if Tehran failed to meet the demands regarding its nuclear programme.
Trump also said he expects an updated proposal from Iran in the coming days.
“We want to reach a deal, but right now the Iranians aren’t where we’d like them to be. They’ll have to get there, otherwise they’ll face a serious blow,” Channel 12 quoted the US president as saying.
Later, Trump posted a message on the social media platform Truth Social, in which he wrote that “the clock is ticking for Iran” and urged Tehran to hurry.
Amid the escalating situation, the United Arab Emirates reported an attack by three drones over the past 24 hours. The UAE Ministry of Defence stated that two drones were intercepted, whilst the third struck a power generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah nuclear power plant in the Al Dhafra region.
A fire broke out following the strike. The UAE authorities reported that the plant’s operations had not been disrupted and that radiation safety levels remained under control. The IAEA stated that it was monitoring the situation.
Abu Dhabi did not name those responsible for the attack, but noted that the incident occurred against the backdrop of a virtual stalemate in negotiations between the US and Iran regarding the end of the war.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack and described it as a threat to the security and stability of the region. Riyadh also expressed its support for the UAE in matters concerning the protection of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif, held talks on mediation efforts regarding the war with Iran.
Qatar and Pakistan are currently engaged in diplomatic contacts between the parties to the conflict in the Middle East.
Al Thani expressed support for Pakistani initiatives aimed at a peaceful resolution of the crisis and emphasised the need to continue negotiations to reach a comprehensive agreement.
