Iran Missile Attack on Israel: US Media Says Trump Will Urge Netanyahu Not to Retaliate

According to US news website Axios, President Trump said today that he will call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to urge him not to retaliate for Iran's missile launch against Israel.

In a telephone interview with Axios reporter Barak Ravid, Trump used Netanyahu's nickname, saying, "I'm going to call Bibi right now and tell him not to retaliate."

According to an interview excerpt posted by Ravid on social media platform X, Trump said, "Both sides have had enough. Israel attacked, and Iran attacked. We don't need another one."

Today's missile attack is the first time Iran has attacked Israel since the Middle East war ceasefire in April. Trump expressed concern that it could derail negotiations.

Trump said, "Iran's attack caused no casualties. I hope Israel will not retaliate. If Bibi chooses to fight back, this conflict will only continue like the past 47 years, or even the past 3,000 years."

"We are very close to a final agreement with Iran, and it will be a good deal. I don't want the negotiations to fall through because of what is happening now," he said.

In an interview with Fox News Channel, Trump said Iran's attack does not help negotiations and that both sides are "very close" to an agreement.

He said, "We are very close. I think the agreement would have been signed next Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. But now these things are happening."

He urged Iran to "return to the negotiating table and reach an agreement."

Trump also criticized Israel's airstrike on Beirut, Lebanon, today, saying he is "not happy" about it.

The White House did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.