The Times of Israel reports:

In a tense 40-minute phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, US President Donald Trump told the premier he must permanently end the war in the Gaza Strip, Israeli television reported Tuesday.

Trump reportedly told Netanyahu that the so-called “Witkoff framework,” which would pause the war for some 60 days in exchange for about half of the hostages held by Hamas, will not suffice.

Netanyahu has so far refused to negotiate a Gaza truce-hostage deal that would permanently end the fighting in the Strip — a red line for him and his far-right coalition partners.

The US president reportedly told Netanyahu that ending the war in Gaza would help with both the administration’s ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran and normalization talks with Saudi Arabia.

Trump also ruled out an attack on Iran as the White House seeks to rein in Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, according to the reports. [Continue reading…]

NBC News reports:

Israel is considering taking military action against Iran — most likely without U.S. support — in the coming days, even as President Donald Trump is in advanced discussions with Tehran about a diplomatic deal to curtail its nuclear program, according to five people with knowledge of the situation.

Israel has become more serious about a unilateral strike on Iran as the negotiations between the United States and Iran appear closer to a preliminary or framework agreement that includes provisions about uranium enrichment that Israel views as unacceptable.

Details about the Israeli discussions emerged before the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors formally found that Iran isn’t complying with its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years.

In the draft resolution the board, which represents member nations including the U.S., renews a call on Iran to provide answers “without delay” in a long-running investigation into uranium traces found at several locations that Tehran has failed to declare as nuclear sites.

Were Israel to launch a unilateral strike against Iran, it would be a dramatic break with the Trump administration, which has argued against such a step. The Trump administration is awaiting a response from Iran about a proposed framework of a nuclear deal, and Trump has publicly said Tehran has become more hardline in its negotiations.

If Israel does conduct any operations against Iran, they would be conducted without any U.S. military assistance, according to a source familiar with the matter. But the individual did not rule out American intelligence support being provided to Israel. [Continue reading…]

Axios reports:

White House envoy Steve Witkoff privately warned top Senate Republicans last week that Iran could unleash a mass casualty response if Israel bombs their nuclear facilities, according to a U.S. official and a source with direct knowledge.

Why it matters: With Israel preparing to strike Iran quickly if Witkoff’s diplomacy fails this weekend, President Trump’s envoy sounded the alarm about what would come next. Iran’s retaliation could overwhelm Israel’s defenses and cause heavy damage, he said.

• Iran has also vowed to strike U.S. targets in the region in the event of an attack on its nuclear sites. The U.S. is in the process of withdrawing diplomats and military families who could be in harm’s way.
• Trump told reporters Thursday that he doesn’t want to say an Israeli strike “is imminent” but that “it might very well happen.” Trump stressed he wants to avoid conflict but said that will require concessions that Iran has been unwilling to make.
• Trump added that he still wants a deal and would prefer Israel not do anything to “ruin it” so long as there’s a chance.

State of play: Witkoff is preparing for a sixth round of nuclear talks with Iran on Sunday. It could be the last. [Continue reading…]