Washington DC: US President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by telephone on Saturday as Washington considered the possibility of renewed military action against Iran, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the conversation.
The call followed a White House meeting earlier in the week, during which Trump consulted senior military officials on strategic options for resuming major combat operations, the newspaper reported.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said diplomatic discussions involving Iran were continuing, but declined to specify a deadline or assess their progress. He stressed that Trump had not yet made a decision on further military action.
Speaking to reporters after the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Georgia, Rubio said Washington remained open to a diplomatic solution that addressed its fundamental security concerns.
“There are multiple talks; talks have actually never stopped. There’s been active conversations going both in some cases directly, but often through intermediaries,” Rubio said.
Rubio was responding to questions about how long Washington intended to allow diplomatic efforts before potentially resuming military operations. He said decisions regarding the timing rested solely with the President.
“I’m not gonna characterise either the progress on those talks or any timeframe on it other than to tell you that if there is a diplomatic solution, we would be open to it,” he remarked.
The US Secretary of State emphasised that any agreement must protect American national security interests and address the concerns underlying the crisis. He identified Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its support for regional armed groups as key issues.
Asked about the possibility of fresh military strikes, Rubio declined to discuss specific contingency plans. However, he reiterated that although Trump preferred a peaceful resolution, Washington remained confident in its military capabilities.
“We can achieve military objectives if we seek to. He hasn’t made a decision,” Rubio observed.
Rubio also accused Tehran of threatening international maritime trade by targeting commercial vessels carrying cargo, oil and natural gas.
He said American naval forces were intercepting incoming drones and anti-ship missiles almost every night. However, petroleum transit volumes remained comparable to pre-conflict levels despite the continuing security challenges.
Rubio warned that disruptions to maritime trade could have serious consequences for global food security, particularly if supplies of fuel, agricultural inputs and food commodities were interrupted.
Turning to regional geopolitics, Rubio accused Iran of supporting armed groups across the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis and various militias challenging the Iraqi state.
“So anywhere you turn, what you find is some Iranian proxy that’s undermining the peace and stability of the Middle East,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, Iran’s top security official, Mohsen Rezaei, said the United States had adopted a “completely shifted tone” in a letter from US Vice President JD Vance, according to Al Jazeera.
His remarks marked the first on-the-record Iranian reaction to the diplomatic overture, even as Trump continued to claim that Tehran was seeking negotiations.
“Their tone has shifted completely, which is a good sign that shows that our people have secured their victory,” Rezaei told Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.
Vance’s letter was delivered to Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, through Qatari mediators on Sunday.
According to The New York Times, the proposal envisages direct negotiations under Vance’s leadership, with Iran’s nuclear programme forming part of the discussions from the outset.
Separately, The Wall Street Journal, citing a source, reported that the communication outlined a “framework for negotiations” rather than specific peace terms. The report added that the letter was sent at Trump’s direction.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera on Saturday that Tehran had studied the letter and described Washington’s attempt to initiate dialogue as a “positive step”.
He also disclosed that an aide had travelled to Doha for consultations with mediators.
Citing sources, Al Jazeera reported that a meeting could take place within a week, with Doha or Istanbul being considered as possible venues.
Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that Iran’s military would respond to any missteps by the United States or Israel with a response that was “geographically unrestricted”.
“If the enemies once again launch military or terrorist attacks, it is the armed forces of the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation that will determine the time and conditions for their end,” Khamenei said.
Speaking at the White House on Friday, Trump asserted that Tehran was keen to engage in negotiations.
“There are talks, they want to talk, they keep talking,” he said, adding, “We have time, frankly.”
Trump further claimed that Iran was “in a lot of trouble” and predicted that the conflict would end “very soon”.
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