President Trump acknowledged Wednesday that he warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against taking any actions that could threaten ongoing talks between the Trump administration and Iran over a new nuclear deal.
“Well, I’d like to be honest. Yes, I did. Next question, please?” Trump said when asked if he had warned Netanyahu against strikes when it came to Iran in order not to disrupt talks U.S. officials say they are having with Tehran.
“It’s not a warning,” Trump added. “I said, ‘I don’t think it’s appropriate.’ I just said I don’t think it’s appropriate. We’re having very good discussions with them, and I don’t think it’s appropriate right now.”
The question to Trump came as Axios first reported on a conversation between Trump and Netanyahu, noting that Israel has been preparing for potential strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities if talks falter.
Officials from Iran and the U.S. have been engaged in talks in recent weeks around Tehran’s nuclear program. Trump during his first term withdrew the U.S. from the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, which had offered sanctions relief in exchange for limits on its nuclear program.
The president has since taken a softer tone toward Iran during his second term and signaled he could be open to Iran having a civilian nuclear program, but has been adamant that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
Trump repeated his optimism on the talks, on Wednesday, telling reporters “we’re doing very well with Iran.”
