The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has indicated that he plans to call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the aim of convincing him not to respond militarily to the missile attack launched tonight from Iran against Israeli territory, in an attempt to channel the conflict towards a negotiated solution.
"I'm going to call Netanyahu right now and tell him not to counterattack," Trump stated in remarks to Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, as reported by Fox News.
Along the same lines, the leader urged Iranian authorities to immediately cease missile launches against Israel and to return to talks with a view to reaching an understanding that reduces tension.
"What I would suggest to Iran is: you've launched your missiles. Enough. Go back to the table and make a deal," the US leader pointed out.
Trump also intervened on Israeli channel N12, where he stressed that "Nobody was hurt in the missile attack. If Netanyahu responds, this will go on and on. We are very close to a deal to end the war and it will be a good deal. I don't want this to spoil the deal. Both sides have attacked. I don't want to see more attacks," he noted.
Later, in an interview with Israeli public television Kan, the US president reiterated his call for restraint. "I think Israel has responded enough. There is no need for further response. We can achieve peace after 3,000 years," he argued.
The Iranian attack this Sunday consisted of at least three waves of projectiles targeting northern Israel, which forced the activation of air raid sirens in almost 300 locations across the country.
Tehran presented this offensive as a "warning" in retaliation for the Israeli bombing this same Sunday on Dahiye, the southern Beirut district considered a stronghold of the Lebanese Shiite party-militia Hezbollah.