Trump Wants to Negotiate with Iran, While Netanyahu Pushes for Attacks After US Elections

US President Donald Trump is leaning toward diplomacy with Iran. He wants to give ongoing talks more time, according to an Axios report published Sunday, November 1.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pushed Trump to resume military strikes. He raised this during a phone call on Saturday, October 31. Netanyahu wanted strikes to resume right after Tuesday’s US midterm elections.

An Israeli source called the call “tough.” A US source called it “direct.” Trump confirmed the call on Sunday. He described it as “a very good talk,” but gave no further details.

On Saturday, Trump told reporters that Iran talks were going well. He said he was not “in much of a hurry” to resume strikes. He had earlier suggested strikes could return after the midterms. US Vice President JD Vance sent a message to Mohsen Rezaei. Rezaei is secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. The message was about restarting formal talks.

Qatar is also acting as a mediator. Qatari officials are talking with Iranian representatives about returning to direct negotiations.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said no deal has been reached yet. He said Tehran is still waiting for US answers on open issues.

The White House and Netanyahu’s office both declined to comment.

On Sunday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) reported a new incident. A vessel was reportedly struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz.

The warning was numbered 191-26. It listed the incident time as 8:09 pm Pakistan time on November 1. A merchant vessel’s captain relayed a Mayday call about another vessel being hit. UKMTO did not name the vessel or confirm any casualties.
UKMTO told ships in the area to “transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.”