U.S. President Donald Trump Urges Netanyahu to Delay Retaliation for Iran Missile Attack, Officials Say

U.S. President Donald Trump asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call on Sunday local time not to retaliate for Iran’s missile attack and to allow more time for diplomacy, a senior U.S. official and an Israeli source familiar with the call said. According to Odaily, the U.S. official said Trump told Netanyahu to hold off because the sides were close to reaching what Trump described as a good agreement. The official said Netanyahu raised objections but ultimately agreed, reluctantly, to refrain from immediate action. The official added that the Sunday call was calmer than a tense exchange between the two leaders last week, and that Trump did not raise his voice at Netanyahu. The U.S. official said the United States believed Trump had gained some time, and that Trump was convinced an agreement with Iran was near and did not think Israel would carry out any strikes immediately.