Trump and Netanyahu spoke about Iran for second time in two days – report

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call on Iran yesterday, Axios reports.

The call was the second time the two leaders spoke in two days, the outlet says.

Axios says the White House and the Prime Minister’s Office both declined to comment.

During the first call, Netanyahu reportedly asked Trump to delay potential plans for an American strike on Iran so that Israel could have more time to prepare for any potential retaliation by Tehran.

Trump threatened to strike Iran over its mass killings of protesters in anti-regime demonstrations, but has since then appeared to back away from taking military action.

Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel and US military bases in the Middle East if attacked.

Senior officials from American allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Egypt have also been urging the Trump administration not to attack Iran.

The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group says it has verified that 3,428 protesters have been killed by security forces.

That toll is based on cases IHR has verified itself or via two independent sources. It also includes data received from sources within the health ministry for January 8 to 12, the organization said in a recent report.

The organization warns the toll is likely much higher, but the lack of access to information due to the internet blackout imposed on January 8 has severely hampered verification.

AFP contributed to this report.