US President Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a telephone conversation that Washington would no longer use its military to help Israel in the conflict with Iran, the Washington Post reported, citing a senior White House official.
"Trump called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and told him that the United States would no longer use its military forces to help Israel in its war with Iran," the newspaper writes.
According to the source, the American leader told the Israeli prime minister that the US military "did what was necessary." The source claims that Netanyahu was unhappy with this statement, however, realizing that Trump "wanted to see a U-turn towards diplomacy," he agreed to a cease-fire.
In addition, according to the source, after the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and information about their success, Trump ordered his special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, to resume contacts with the Iranian side. It is noted that shortly after that Witkoff had a conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, in which he called on Tehran to return to the negotiating table.
On the night of June 13, Israel launched an operation against Iran, accusing it of implementing a secret military nuclear program. The targets of aerial bombardments and raids by sabotage groups were nuclear facilities, generals, prominent nuclear physicists, and air bases.
Iran has denied the accusations, responding with its own attacks. The parties exchanged blows for 12 days, joined by the United States, carrying out a one-time attack on Iran's nuclear facilities on the night of June 22. After that, on the evening of June 23, Tehran launched missile strikes on the US El-Udeid base in Qatar, stating that the Iranian side does not intend to escalate further.
US President Donald Trump then expressed the hope that a blow to the American military base in Iran has "let off steam" in Qatar, and now a path to peace and harmony in the Middle East is possible. He also said that Israel and Iran have agreed to conclude a truce, which after 24 hours should be "the official end of the 12-day war."