The key facts

  • In a phone call on October 31–November 1, Netanyahu pressed Trump to strike Iran immediately after the US midterm elections
  • Trump prefers continued diplomacy and said he is in no rush to resume strikes
  • In parallel, Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to the secretary of Iran's National Security Council, and Qatar is trying to arrange direct talks

Disagreements between Washington and Tel Aviv over Iran

US President Donald Trump is betting on diplomatic dialogue with Tehran, despite pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is calling for a resumption of military strikes against Iran immediately after the US congressional midterm elections scheduled for Tuesday, November 3. This is reported by Axios, citing American and Israeli sources, familiar with the content of the Saturday phone call between the two leaders; the outlet was also republished by Gazeta.Ru.

Content of the conversation and the parties' positions

According to sources, during the call Netanyahu insisted on resuming military action against Iran shortly after the vote, but Trump preferred to give the ongoing diplomatic tracks a chance to develop. The American president's approach worries the Israeli prime minister. The sources' characterizations of the conversation differed: the American source called it 'direct,' while the Israeli one called it 'tough'. The White House and the office of the Israeli prime minister declined to comment.

Parallel diplomatic contacts

Publicly, Trump told journalists on Saturday that negotiations with Tehran were going well and that he 'is not in a big hurry' to resume strikes — although he had previously allowed for their resumption after November 3. Gazeta.Ru separately recalls his earlier statements: according to Trump, Washington has plans to attack one or two sites in Iran, which the country, in his words, would handle 'in ten minutes,' and he had allowed for strikes on a nuclear facility.

Diplomatic track and uncertainty

The leaders' conversation takes place against the backdrop of diplomatic activity: US Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, about a possible resumption of formal negotiations, while Qatari mediators are holding discussions with Iranian representatives about returning to direct talks. At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that there is no agreement yet — it remains pending responses from the United States. Thus, at this point only the parties' positions and the ongoing contacts are confirmed; no decision has been made on resuming strikes or negotiations.