Trump tells Axios he will ask Netanyahu not to strike back at Iran

Barak Ravid

President Trump waves as he exits Air Force One on the tarmac at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, ahead of an agriculture-focused event. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images — President Trump waves from Air Force One after arriving in Chippewa County, Wis., on June 5. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

President Trump will call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and press him not to retaliate for Iran's missile attack, Trump tells Axios.

"I am going to call Bibi right now and tell him not to retaliate. Each of them had their fun. Israel had its strike, and Iran had its strike. We don't need another one," Trump said.

Why it matters: The ceasefire in the Middle East is teetering after Israel struck Beirut and Iran fired multiple waves of missiles in response.

Trump is racing to stop the escalations from killing his hopes at a lasting deal with Iran. Netanyahu's answer will measure how much sway the American president still holds over Israel.

Driving the news: Iran fired missiles at Israel on Sunday in retaliation for the Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs. It's Iran's first direct attack since the April 8 ceasefire.

Israel says it has intercepted the missiles.
Trump's demand that Israel not retaliate is highly unusual. Without U.S. support, any Israeli strike in Iran will be much more difficult and risky.
A U.S. official told Axios: "We are not part of this," but it is unclear whether Trump will order the U.S. military not to assist Israel in a strike in Iran, especially when it comes to air refueling and other kinds of military coordination.
Another official confirmed Trump spoke to Netanyahu.

What he's saying: Trump played down the Iranian strikes.

"The Iranian strikes didn't hurt anybody," Trump tells Axios. "Hopefully Israel is not going to retaliate. If Bibi strikes them back, it's just gonna keep going like the last 47 years — or the last 3,000 years."
Trump added: "We are very close to a final deal with Iran. It is going to be a good deal. I don't want it to blow up because of what is happening now."

The other side: The Israel Defense Forces chief of staff "is approving military plans right now," IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said in a statement.

"The Iranian regime has made a grave mistake," Defrin said. "… We will not allow the Iranian regime to establish a new equation. We will continue striking Hezbollah targets in Beirut."

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

Add Axios on Google

Trump tells Axios he will ask Netanyahu not to strike back at Iran

What to read next