Trump Tells Netanyahu to 'Finish the Job' in Iran as Ceasefire Collapses
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone on Thursday, discussing Turkey and American military deployments in the Persian Gulf, according to Netanyahu's office. During the call, Trump reportedly said the United States should 'finish the job' in Iran, adding that the ceasefire was effectively 'over.'
The conversation came hours after the US launched new airstrikes on Iranian positions. Trump claimed that Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz had ended the truce. In response, Iran struck targets in Kuwait and Qatar, both US allies, and accused Washington of bombing near its sole nuclear power plant.
Trump has sent conflicting signals, authorizing repeated strikes while denying any intention to return to full-scale war, deepening uncertainty about the next steps, the Associated Press reported. The developments mark the latest escalation in a crisis that has simmered since the US withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions.
The leaders also discussed Turkey's role in the region. Ankara has maintained ties with both Iran and the West, complicating US and Israeli efforts to isolate Tehran. The White House has not publicly commented on the call's details.
Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the US strikes as 'a violation of international law' and warned of further retaliation. The United Nations called for restraint, urging all parties to avoid a full-blown conflict that could destabilize the entire Middle East.
Analysts note that the situation remains volatile, with neither side showing willingness to de-escalate. The US has increased its naval presence in the Gulf, while Iran has accelerated its uranium enrichment program.
