Trump says he will tell Israel not to strike back after Iran attacks military base near Nazareth

BEIRUT/DUBAI/NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he would urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to carry out retaliatory strikes after Iran launched missiles toward Israeli targets, according to Axios.

The missile attack by Iran came in response to earlier Israeli strikes near Beirut, escalating tensions across multiple fronts involving Lebanon and the wider region.

Iran has long maintained that any potential peace agreement with the United States would require a broader ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel has been conducting military operations since March in pursuit of Hezbollah fighters. Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets and drones across the border in solidarity with Tehran.

On Sunday, Israel carried out strikes in the Beirut area for the first time since the U.S. announced a truce proposal for Lebanon last week. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted the Ramat David air base near Nazareth, while the Israeli military said it detected incoming missiles and successfully intercepted them using its air defense systems.

Trump, who spent the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, spoke by phone with Netanyahu for less than 30 minutes, according to an Israeli official. The White House and Netanyahu’s office did not immediately comment on the call.

Earlier, Trump told Axios he was pushing for restraint.

“Israel had its strike and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one,” Trump said. “We are very close to a final deal with Iran. It is going to be a good deal. I don’t want it to blow up because of what is happening now.”

An Israeli source, speaking anonymously, said Israel would likely respond to the Iranian missile attack, signaling that further escalation remained possible.

Shortly after midnight local time, Israel’s military said Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had not yet ordered additional strikes on Iran but warned that forces would act “with determination” if instructed.

Since the start of U.S.-Iran negotiations aimed at ending the broader conflict, Israel has continued operations in Lebanon, which Israeli officials argue are separate from any ceasefire discussions with Iran. Tehran, however, has insisted that Lebanon be included in any comprehensive agreement.

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, the country’s chief peace negotiator, said U.S. military bases and Israeli assets are legitimate targets, citing what he described as violations of understandings over Lebanon.

Before Sunday’s attack, Iran had not directly struck Israel since a ceasefire in the wider conflict took effect in April, although Hezbollah has continued cross-border attacks.

Trump has repeatedly said Washington and Tehran are close to a deal to end the conflict, while warning of consequences if negotiations fail.

“We’re very close to a deal, or I’m going to blow the hell out of them,” Trump said in a prerecorded NBC “Meet the Press” interview aired Sunday.

Pressure to Limit Escalation in Lebanon

Trump has also pressed Israel to scale back operations in Lebanon to create space for diplomatic efforts with Iran. He reportedly urged Netanyahu in a recent call to avoid further strikes that could derail negotiations.

Despite these calls, Israeli operations in Lebanon have continued, contributing to a war that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Hezbollah has said it will not disarm unless Israel halts its attacks and withdraws from Lebanese territory.

Netanyahu said Sunday’s strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs — known as Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold — were in response to rocket fire from Hezbollah positions.

The conflict has remained largely stalemated since early April, when the United States and Israel paused direct operations against Iran. However, tensions have persisted, including disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route.

While Washington and Tehran have signaled progress toward a preliminary understanding that could reopen maritime routes, both sides continue to exchange accusations and periodic strikes, including incidents involving countries hosting U.S. military bases.

Trump has insisted that any final agreement must prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, arguing for tougher terms than the 2015 nuclear deal later abandoned during his first term.

Iran, meanwhile, is seeking sanctions relief, recognition of its regional influence, and access to frozen assets abroad as part of any agreement.

As diplomatic talks continue, the risk of further escalation between Israel, Iran, and Hezbollah remains high, with both military and political leaders signaling they are prepared for additional action if necessary. -Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Peter Graff and Kristina Cooke; Editing by William Maclean, Mark Potter, Nick Zieminski and Paul Simao/Reuters