President Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday “not to respond” after Iran fired missiles toward Israel in the first direct attack on the Jewish state since an April ceasefire.
Tensions in the Middle East escalated Sunday after rocket fire was launched toward northern Israel from Lebanon, prompting Israeli Defense Forces to strike “terrorist headquarters in the Dahieh district of Beirut, in response to Hezbollah’s firing at Israeli territory,” according to Netanyahu.
“I’m about to call Bibi right now and tell him not to respond,” Trump said after Iran then launched multiple missile barrages at northern Israel, according to Axios. “Both of them have already done their part. Israel had its strike and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one.”
Trump also said the Iranian missiles did not hit anyone and “we’re very close to a final deal with Iran… I don’t want it to blow up because of what’s happening right now.” The Israeli military said it intercepted the missiles.
A renewed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was announced Wednesday, though the Iranian-backed Hezbollah rejected the deal. Iran’s foreign minister said Thursday an attack on Beirut “will lead to a full-scale resumption of the war.”
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem “directed all U.S. government employees and their family members to shelter in place, and be prepared to move to a protected shelter in the event of a red alert, until further notice” as a result of the rising tensions. Oil prices rose amid the exchange of fire.
A statement from Iran’s Foreign Ministry said further attacks against either Lebanon or Iran will be met with a “crushing and comprehensive” military response. The State Department announced that another round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled for the week of June 22, according to the New York Times.
Trump also said Sunday Netanyahu “won’t have any choice” other than accepting whatever deal the United States negotiates with Iran, and that the president “calls the shots,” according to the Financial Times.
A senior U.S. official confirmed the Trump administration did not give a “green light” to the strikes in Beirut, and said Trump told Netanyahu during the phone call not to retaliate since “we are close to doing something good in terms of a deal.” The official said the Israeli prime minister “pseudo-agreed” to do so.
IRAN FIRES MISSILES AT ISRAEL AS MIDDLE EAST TIT-FOR-TAT ESCALATES
The president told Fox News the recent escalation is “certainly not going to help negotiations” and a deal would have been signed on “Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of this coming week” if not for Iran’s retaliation.
“What I would suggest to Iran: You’ve shot your missiles, that’s enough, get back to the table and make a deal,” Trump said.
