Two Israeli embassy staff were killed in a shooting in Washington last week, and President Donald Trump warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to take steps that could derail U.S.-Iran negotiations, a senior White House official said. U.S. and Iranian negotiators are pressing toward a possible agreement meant to halt wider regional escalation, and the White House urged Israel to refrain from unilateral military action that would collapse fragile diplomacy. Trump told Netanyahu, "this isn't the time to escalate the situation while he is trying to resolve the issues," the senior White House official said, while White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the president "clearly explained" he prefers a diplomatic solution even as he kept "the second option" on the table. The immediate test will be whether Israel holds back while diplomats prepare a second round of talks after an initial session in Islamabad.

The White House view is stark. U.S. officials fear that an Israeli strike, including a rapid attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, could blow up a deal they see as the best chance to halt a spiral of violence across the region. Senior U.S. officials delivered that message directly, both in a phone call between Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu and in face-to-face briefings in Washington, according to a senior White House official.

Washington's warning and the diplomatic push

American urgency is driven by two linked realities. First, the U.S. is actively negotiating with Tehran and wants a pause in broader hostilities while diplomats try to seal an agreement. Second, the bargaining table rests on fragile conditions: U.S. officials say weeks of strikes, a blockade of Iranian ports and sustained bombing have inflicted heavy damage on Tehran and degraded Iranian forces and infrastructure. Those military pressures make both sides more willing to talk, but they also mean a single military action could undo the progress of negotiations.

That is why Mr. Trump, according to the senior White House official, told Mr. Netanyahu not to escalate. Karoline Leavitt, the White House spokesperson, framed the president's approach in blunt terms. She said Mr. Trump "clearly explained" he prefers diplomacy and wants to see a deal, while also warning that "the second option is still on the table." The message is a mix of pressure and backstop: pursue talks, but keep military options in reserve.

Mastheads

Senior Israeli officials traveled to Washington this week for direct discussions. Israeli ministers and senior intelligence representatives met with senior U.S. officials, according to a senior White House official. Those meetings were meant to clarify Israeli concerns and to press U.S. officials on how any agreement would affect Israel's security calculus.

Israel's readiness to act and domestic politics

At the same time, Israeli leaders have signaled publicly that they reserve the right to continue offensive operations against perceived threats in the region, including strikes in Lebanon, even if the United States helps broker a ceasefire.

Israeli authorities say they will act independently where they see an imminent threat, reflecting deep concern about Iran's nuclear program and about Iranian-linked groups across the Levant.

Domestic politics in Israel add a second layer of volatility. Criticism of Prime Minister Netanyahu's handling of the war has grown, and hardline elements within Israeli politics argue for decisive military options to prevent Iran from advancing nuclear capabilities. That pressure helps explain public statements that Israel won't be bound by a U.S.-brokered pause if leaders judge it necessary to protect the country. Reports from Israel also describe planning for a potential rapid strike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure if talks with the United States collapse in the weeks ahead.

For Washington, the risk is straightforward. The administration has made negotiating a settlement a political priority for Mr. Trump. A collapse of talks triggered by an Israeli operation wouldn't only risk a wider regional war but also undermine a key diplomatic achievement the White House has been pursuing. For Tehran, severe economic and military pressure makes a negotiated pause attractive, but sustained damage also raises incentives for Tehran to accept a pause rather than endure a prolonged and costly confrontation.

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Diplomats are preparing for a second round of talks after an initial session in Islamabad. The immediate test is whether Israel refrains from independent military steps while U.S. and Iranian negotiators reconvene.

This article was created with AI assistance.