Israel says it will keep striking region as Trump pushes Iran deal

A senior Israeli official says Benjamin Netanyahu has told US President Donald Trump that Israel will continue military operations across the region, including in Lebanon, regardless of ongoing negotiations with Iran.

The official told the BBC that Netanyahu stressed Israel would “maintain freedom of action against threats in all arenas”.

The US is also briefing Israel on talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and moving towards a final agreement with Tehran.

“President Trump made it clear that he will stand firm in the negotiations on his consistent demand for dismantling the Iranian nuclear program and removing all enriched uranium from its territory, and that he will not sign a final agreement without accepting these conditions,” the official said.

Netanyahu echoed the position shortly afterwards, saying no deal would be possible unless what he described as Iran’s nuclear threat is eliminated.