Trump and Netanyahu clash over pace of Iran talks

President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a candid call on Saturday in which Netanyahu pressed for a strike on Iran soon after Tuesday's midterm elections while Trump wants negotiations to run, Axios reported, citing one Israeli and one US source.

Why it matters: The split puts a timetable dispute between Washington and Jerusalem on the record while Qatari mediated talks with Iran continue, and a US strike decision taken on an election calendar would move oil and shipping markets without warning.

Data as of Axios report of November 1, 2026, read in this run; the account rests on one Israeli and one US source, both unnamed, and the White House and the Israeli prime minister's office declined to comment. Part of the article sits behind a sign-up gate and could not be read; this item uses only the reporting that was visible. Single-sourced, grade C. Developing item.

President Donald Trump held a candid phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday about US negotiations with Iran and how quickly to return to combat, Axios reported, citing one Israeli and one US source. The sources said Netanyahu is pressing Trump to strike Iran immediately after the midterm elections on Tuesday, while Trump for now wants to let negotiations play out; the Israeli source called the call “tough” and the US source called it “direct”. The White House and Netanyahu’s office declined to comment.

The call sits against live diplomacy. Qatari mediators met Iranian officials on Sunday for the third consecutive day, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there is no agreement yet. Last week Vice President Vance sent a letter to Iran’s national security chief Mohsen Rezaei about restarting negotiations, the most senior US outreach to Tehran in several months, and Trump told reporters on Saturday that negotiations with Iran are “going fine” and that he is in no rush.

Trump and Netanyahu clash over pace of Iran talks

Sources