Trump and Netanyahu set for talks amid reports of renewed plans for strikes on Iran
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL: Two days after President Donald Trump concluded his high-stakes trip to China, the focus has again shifted to the escalating tension with Iran, as peace is nowhere in sight despite repeated intense diplomatic efforts.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will talk to “friend” Trump on Sunday, May 17, amid consideration to restart military action against Iran.
Trump, Netanyahu have “eyes open regarding Iran”
As Trump remains at the White House on Sunday with no public or press appearances on his schedule, a report claims that he will talk to Netanyahu regarding Iran as he reportedly has grown frustrated with Iran’s tactics over peace deal terms.
"Our eyes are also open regarding Iran," Netanyahu said Sunday morning, as translated from Hebrew. "I will speak today, as I do every few days, with our friend President Trump.
"I will certainly hear impressions from his trip to China, and perhaps other matters as well. There are certainly many possibilities, and we are prepared for every scenario."
Trump reportedly considers a strike on Iran
The update comes amid reports from regional intelligence assessments on Iran suggesting that renewed military strikes against Tehran might be imminent, amid the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit chokepoint that holds around one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil supply.
"The prevailing assessment inside Iran is that President Trump may resort to restarting military action, and Tehran is now deliberately pursuing a strategy of 'deception and delay' with the hopes that buying time will complicate any potential return to war," two regional intelligence officials told Fox News.
Intelligence officials believe the Iranian regime is trying to delay the situation and drag out the crisis for at least two weeks, hoping it would become harder for Donald Trump to restart military action against Iran, both politically and logistically.
Officials believe Iran thinks upcoming major events, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, could work in Iran’s favour by making the US less willing to continue or escalate a military conflict.
Iran and the US-Israel war
The ongoing tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran escalated into a full-fledged conflict following a joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran on February 28, killing the Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ali Khamenei.
The assault triggered a broader regional confrontation that has continued for nearly 10 weeks. Iran, in retaliation, closed the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, triggering a global oil crisis and damaging economies worldwide.
