JUST IN: Netanyahu welcomes Trump’s Iran negotiation push as US suspends planned strikes

International, Middle East

JERUSALEM, Israel (NPA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support for ongoing diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the suspension of planned military strikes and revealed progress toward a memorandum of understanding with Tehran.

According to a statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Trump spoke with Netanyahu on Thursday regarding the emerging framework for negotiations with Iran.

Although Israel is not a direct party to the proposed memorandum of understanding, Netanyahu reportedly welcomed Trump’s assurances that any final agreement would address Israel’s core security concerns.

The Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu expressed appreciation for Trump’s commitment that a final deal would include the removal of Iran’s enriched nuclear material, the dismantling of enrichment infrastructure, restrictions on missile production, and an end to Tehran’s support for armed proxy groups across the Middle East.

The development followed Trump’s surprise announcement that he had cancelled military strikes previously scheduled against Iran after what he described as progress in high-level negotiations involving multiple regional and international stakeholders.

“Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The U.S. President claimed that key elements of a prospective agreement had been approved by parties involved in the negotiations, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Egypt. He added that a naval blockade would remain in force until the arrangement is formally concluded.

The latest diplomatic development comes after several days of escalating tensions between the United States, Iran, and Israel, during which Trump had threatened large-scale military action against Iran and even suggested that the United States could eventually take control of Iran’s strategic Kharg Island and other major oil infrastructure facilities.