Trump and Netanyahu Hold Late-Night Call as U.S.-Iran Deal Talks Accelerate

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Sunday evening, interrupting a security and diplomatic cabinet meeting so Netanyahu could take the call. Defense Minister Israel Katz also spoke with his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, as reports said Washington was updating Israel on progress toward an agreement with Iran, possibly as soon as overnight.

According to a Channel 12 report cited by Yaron Abraham, a senior source familiar with the details said the pace of talks on a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran had accelerated in recent hours. The negotiations are said to be taking place with Qatari and Pakistani involvement, and one cabinet minister said the Americans were trying to finish the matter quickly and sign a memorandum that would prevent an Iranian response, with Qatar described as the force pressing both sides behind the scenes.

The reported American outline would offer Iran various concessions, including money or economic benefits. In return, Washington is said to be proposing an immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz, instead of the gradual opening previously discussed, along with an Iranian ceasefire and signature on the memorandum.

Israeli ministers attacked Trump sharply, with one saying he was “normalizing fire on a sovereign country.” Trump, meanwhile, wrote on Truth that “Iran will not have nuclear weapons, the Strait of Hormuz will open for business very soon.” He also said the Obama deal had been “a sure path to nuclear weapons for Iran,” while arguing that the current deal is a “fortified wall” preventing Iran from ever obtaining nuclear arms.