Trump said to push Netanyahu to give Iran talks a chance; Israeli official vows response to strikes, ‘even if not immediate’

US President Donald Trump reaffirmed in his phone conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this evening that he is committed to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and from threatening the region and Israel, while insisting at this stage not to escalate against Tehran so that US-Iran talks on a deal can progress, a senior White House official told Israel Hayom.

An Israeli security official tells the Hebrew outlet that Israel will respond to Iran’s ballistic missile attacks earlier tonight, “even if it does not happen in the immediate term.”

“In Iran, they have forgotten that their skies belonged to the Israeli Air Force for two months. Attempts to link Lebanon to Iran have been rejected even by the Lebanese government. Operations against Hezbollah will continue,” the official says.

The Kan public broadcaster reports that in light of Trump’s opposition, Israel is considering delaying its response and striking in several days’ time, as opposed to this evening, though no final decision has reportedly been made amid ongoing assessments in Israel.