President Donald Trump revealed that he warned Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu that an expanded confrontation with Iran could ultimately leave Israel without American support, as Washington continues pushing for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

In an interview with Channel 12, Trump said he urged Netanyahu to exercise caution and avoid steps that could trigger a wider regional war. According to the president, he made clear that if tensions continued to escalate, Israel could find itself facing Iran without the backing of the United States.

Trump disclosed that during a telephone conversation on Sunday night, he pressed Netanyahu not to retaliate for Iran’s missile attack. However, he said the discussion concluded without the Israeli premier committing to a specific course of action.

According to Trump, Netanyahu subsequently convened consultations with Israel’s security establishment before later informing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that he had decided to proceed with a military strike inside Iran.

The president said Washington received notification only at the final stages of the operation, after Israeli aircraft had already taken off. Trump added that despite the late notice, he succeeded in limiting the extent of the planned attack.

Trump also revealed that five countries in the region that have been involved in mediation efforts between the United States and Iran appealed to him to intervene with Netanyahu and prevent further military action, while encouraging progress toward a negotiated settlement.

He further claimed that Iranian representatives reached out to the United States on Monday morning, indicating that Tehran did not intend to launch additional attacks against Israel. According to Trump, the Iranians asked Washington to persuade Israel to cease its military operations as well.

“I called Bibi and got him to stop,” Trump remarked to Channel 12.

The president reiterated his belief that diplomacy remains possible, saying he continues to view an agreement with Iran as attainable and maintains that Tehran wants a deal. He added that he believes such an outcome would serve the interests of all parties involved.

Earlier Monday, Trump publicly urged both Israel and Iran to halt hostilities, stating that each side was interested in an immediate ceasefire. He also said negotiations with Tehran were nearing completion and warned that continued exchanges of fire could jeopardize the chances of reaching a final agreement.

The president had signaled that position the previous evening, when he announced his intention to contact Netanyahu and urge restraint following Iran’s missile barrage, arguing that additional retaliation would only perpetuate the conflict.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Command announced Monday that it considers its military campaign against Israel complete. At the same time, the organization issued a warning that further Israeli operations in southern Lebanon or Beirut’s Dahieh district could provoke a more severe Iranian response.

In its statement, the command said Iran’s missile attacks were launched in retaliation for Israeli actions in southern Lebanon and the Dahieh neighborhood of Beirut. While declaring the operation over, Iranian officials cautioned that any future Israeli strikes could be met with significantly stronger measures.

The developments came after Israel carried out an airstrike on a Hezbollah command center in Beirut’s Dahieh suburb on Sunday. According to the Israel Defense Forces, the facility was being used by Hezbollah operatives to coordinate and prepare attacks against Israeli civilians and military personnel.

{Matzav.com}