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Netanyahu asks Trump to delay US attack on Iran

According to U.S. officials, the Israeli prime minister urged Washington to postpone military action as diplomatic efforts reduce tensions

Netanyahu asks Trump to delay US attack – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked U.S. President Donald Trump to delay any plans for a potential American military attack on Iran. The request was reported by the New York Times, citing a senior U.S. official familiar with the discussions.

According to the source, Netanyahu and Trump spoke on the phone on Wednesday. During the conversation, Trump said he had received information from what he described as “very important sources on the other side,” indicating that Iran had stopped killing protesters and was no longer proceeding with previously announced executions. These remarks were widely interpreted as a signal that the White House may be stepping back, at least temporarily, from the option of military action against Tehran.

Netanyahu asks Trump to delay US attack on Iran at a moment when the administration has been weighing military scenarios for several days, against the backdrop of escalating tensions and harsh internal repression by Iranian authorities. While Trump has not ruled out the use of force, his recent statements suggest a preference for pressure through other means.

“I won’t tell you whether I will act,” Trump said in a phone interview with NBC News, leaving open the possibility of military intervention. He added that U.S. pressure had helped save lives by contributing to the halt of killings of protesters and the suspension of some planned executions.

At the same time, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have played a central role in easing tensions between Washington and Tehran. CNN reported that intensive diplomatic efforts over the past 72 hours led the four Arab countries to urge the United States to avoid military strikes, warning of serious security and economic consequences for the entire region.

According to a Gulf official cited by CNN, the same countries also warned Iran that any attacks on U.S. facilities in the Gulf would severely damage Tehran’s relations with neighboring states. The talks focused on lowering public rhetoric and preventing military actions that could trigger broader regional instability.

Netanyahu asks Trump to delay US attack on Iran as these diplomatic channels appear to be producing tangible effects. Qatar, in particular, is described as a key intermediary, having previously played similar roles in other regional crises, including Gaza.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration announced new sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities involved in the repression of protests and in laundering oil revenues abroad. Eighteen people and entities were targeted, including Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

“President Trump stands with the Iranian people and has ordered the Treasury to sanction regime members,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a video statement. He accused Iranian leaders of responding to peaceful demonstrations with mass shootings and attacks on the wounded and hospitals.

The sanctions, issued by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, aim to disrupt networks used to evade oil sanctions and divert energy revenues, which Bessent said rightfully belong to the Iranian people.

The situation inside Iran remains tense. A nationwide internet blackout imposed by authorities has now lasted a full week. According to digital watchdog Netblocks, the shutdown is intended to conceal the scale of the repression. Despite the blackout, protests have continued, with data confirming that connectivity restrictions remain in place 168 hours after they began.

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