U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate following a missile barrage launched by Iran [1].

The plea comes at a critical juncture in Middle East diplomacy. A military escalation could collapse fragile negotiations aimed at ending the long-standing conflict between the two nations.

Trump said that a final deal with Iran is very close [2]. He said that such an agreement could be reached within days [1]. The president warned that any Israeli counterstrike would likely prolong the cycle of violence, a cycle he noted has persisted for 47 years [3].

"Hopefully, Israel is not going to retaliate," Trump said. "If Bibi strikes them back, it’s just gonna keep going like the last 47 years" [3].

Despite these warnings, reports indicate that Israel has continued offensive actions [3]. The recent Iranian missile barrage represents the first such attack on Israel since April [4].

The U.S. president previously urged Israel to hold fire after the initial Iranian strike [4]. The current tension highlights a rift between the U.S. administration's desire for a diplomatic resolution and Israel's security strategy regarding Iranian aggression.

Trump said that the diplomatic path is the only way to avoid a permanent state of war. He has repeatedly emphasized the proximity of a deal to persuade the Israeli leadership to exercise restraint [2].

“"We are very close to a final deal with Iran."”

This situation illustrates a tension between immediate military deterrence and long-term diplomatic goals. While the U.S. is prioritizing a comprehensive peace deal to stabilize the region, Israel's decision to continue offensive actions suggests a lack of confidence in the deal's ability to ensure national security. The outcome depends on whether the promised deal provides enough guarantees to outweigh Israel's perceived need for a retaliatory strike.