In a surprising turn of events, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly urged U.S. President Donald Trump to delay any military action against Iran, as reported by The New York Times on Thursday, referencing an unnamed senior official from the United States. This conversation took place on Wednesday, and while the White House acknowledged that the call occurred, they opted not to disclose specific details regarding its content.
During this pivotal moment, Trump suggested he had received significant information indicating that Iran was ceasing its violence against dissenters. He stated in a press conference held in the Oval Office, "We were informed that the killing in Iran is stopping, and there’s no plan for executions. I’ve been told this from reliable sources. We’ll see if that holds true, but I would certainly be very concerned if it were to happen."
On the same day, the White House also claimed that the Iranian government had halted 800 executions, adding another layer to the ongoing situation. Despite earlier international reports suggesting that U.S. military intervention was imminent, Trump made the decision not to pursue any military strike on Wednesday.
This shift in approach comes amid a broader movement within the U.S. administration toward utilizing diplomatic avenues to exert pressure on Iran, particularly in response to the government's actions against anti-regime demonstrators.
As of now, the Prime Minister's Office has not issued a statement in response to The New York Times' inquiry regarding this development.
