Iran urges Trump to rein in Israel as aerial war intensifies; Netanyahu declares 'path to victory'

People visit to offer condolences at the office of the representative of Iran's supreme leader in Iraq's Shiite holy city of Najaf, on June 14, 2025.

Iran has called on US President Donald Trump to intervene and halt Israel's ongoing aerial assault, warning that continued aggression would be met with escalated retaliation, reported Reuters. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was on the "path to victory".

The plea comes as the four-day-old war between the two regional arch-rivals intensifies, with both sides ramping up attacks and rhetoric.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi issued a blunt message on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential… It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu. That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy.”

Tehran warned that absent a full cessation of Israeli strikes, Iranian missile responses would continue.

Sources told Reuters that Iran had engaged Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman to press the White House to use its influence over Israel to stop the bombardment. In exchange, Iran has signaled potential flexibility in stalled nuclear negotiations, according to two Iranian and three regional officials.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal quoting Middle Eastern and European officials stating that Tehran has been using Arab intermediaries to convey messages to both Israel and the United States, indicating a willingness to resume diplomacy on one condition: that the US stays out of any direct military engagement.

Iran has reportedly told Arab intermediaries that it remains open to renewed discussions about its nuclear program - specifically the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which limited Iran's uranium enrichment and nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, that willingness is conditional on Washington not joining the Israeli strikes, which Tehran views as a red line.

Israel and Iran traded deadly fire for a fourth day on Monday in their most intense confrontation in history, fuelling fears of a drawn-out conflict that could engulf the Middle East.

The longtime foes have fought a prolonged shadow war through proxies and covert operations, with Israel battling several Iran-backed groups in the region, including Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October 2023.