WASHINGTON, May  28, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump said
Wednesday he had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off
striking Iran, saying it would be "inappropriate" amid talks on a nuclear deal.

"Well, I'd like to be honest, yes I did," Trump said when asked if he had
told Netanyahu in a call last week not to take any action that could disrupt
Washington's talks with Tehran.

Pressed on what he told the Israeli premier, Trump replied: "I just said I
don't think it's appropriate, we're having very good discussions with them."

He added: "I told him this would be inappropriate to do right now because
we're very close to a solution.

"I think they want to make a deal, and if we can make a deal, save a lot of
lives."

Tehran and Washington have in recent weeks held five rounds of talks
focused on the issue -- their highest-level contact since the US in 2018
withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal during Trump's first term.

Iran said earlier Wednesday it may consider allowing US inspectors with the
United Nations nuclear watchdog to inspect its facilities if a deal is reached
with the United States.

But Israel has repeatedly threatened military action against arch-enemy
Iran and US media reports last week said Israel was making preparations to
strike Iranian nuclear sites despite the ongoing US-Iran talks.

Trump has not ruled out military action but said he wants space to make a
deal first -- and has also said that Israel, and not the United States -- would
take the lead in any such strikes.

Iran has long been accused by Western powers of seeking to develop nuclear
weapons -- a claim Tehran has consistently denied, insisting its nuclear
program is solely for peaceful, civilian purposes.