White House Denies Trump-Netanyahu Iran Strike Talks

Reports of discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about possible renewed strikes on Iran have been countered by a White House denial, and no decision to resume large-scale attacks has been reported. The reported conversations, described by officials cited in coverage published October 13, took place over the previous two weeks and included consideration of a joint operation against Iranian military and nuclear facilities. A U.S. official characterized Trump as telling Netanyahu to prepare, while emphasizing that the remark did not commit the president to military action. The accounts trace back to Channel 12 reporting, rather than independent records of the conversations. The White House called the account that the leaders discussed restarting the war false. It said Trump would not attack Iran before the U.S. midterm elections. Netanyahu’s office confirmed regular contact with Trump and senior U.S. officials but did not address the substance of their conversations. The reported discussions and the White House’s denial remain in direct conflict.