Donald Trump announced he would call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to tell him not to retaliate against Iran, inserting himself directly into a Middle East escalation that has already sent Bitcoin on a rollercoaster ride.
The intervention came after Iranian missile strikes on Israel, which Trump characterized as causing no casualties. His message to both sides was blunt: you each got your shot, now sit down and talk.
The call and what followed
Trump framed the situation with characteristic simplicity. Israel had “its strike” and Iran had “its strike,” he said, arguing that both nations should pivot back to diplomatic negotiations rather than risk further escalation.
The Iranian strikes came in response to Israeli military actions in Lebanon, but Trump emphasized that no injuries resulted. He positioned the US as being “very close to a final deal” on the Iran nuclear issue, casting himself as the indispensable mediator between two nations with decades of mutual hostility.
