Netanyahu says he did not urge Trump to resume strikes on Iran

WASHINGTON, United States — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he did not press U.S. President Donald Trump to restart attacks on Tehran during their recent meeting in Washington. Speaking to ABC News, Netanyahu said the talks covered a range of issues, including Iran's nuclear program. Netanyahu said options discussed with Trump included negotiating a broader agreement with Iran, maintaining the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, and potential military steps. He acknowledged close U.S.-Israeli coordination on Iran but expressed skepticism about the prospects for a diplomatic solution, accusing Tehran of using delay tactics. The Israeli prime minister also argued that once the war ends, the Strait of Hormuz would cease to function as a tool of Iranian leverage. He said alternative plans to transport energy via the Red Sea to Israel and onward to the Mediterranean would produce that outcome.