Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump held a phone call on 18 May to discuss the possibility of resuming military operations against Iran, according to Israel's state-owned Kan TV broadcaster. The call signals a sharp escalation in diplomatic and military signalling between Washington and Jerusalem as Iran-US peace talks remain deadlocked.

Joint Military Action on the Table

Citing a senior Israeli official, Kan TV reported that the United States is expected to conduct strikes jointly with Israel if fighting against Iran resumes. The report underscores how closely the two allies are coordinating their military calculus, even as diplomatic channels remain nominally open through Pakistani mediation.

Later the same evening, Netanyahu convened an emergency cabinet meeting in which Israel's multiple active fronts were discussed, according to a government official.

Trump's Escalating Warnings to Tehran

The phone call came after Trump issued a stark public warning to Iran, posting on his social media platform: 'for Iran, the clock is ticking, and they better get moving, fast, or there won't be anything left of them.' He separately told French media: 'If they don't, they're going to have a bad time. A very bad time. They had better make a deal.'

Trump also shared an AI-generated graphic depicting himself and a US Navy admiral standing before stormy waters, captioned: 'It was calm before the storm' — imagery widely interpreted as a veiled military threat.

Background: Ceasefire, Talks, and Stalemate

The current standoff traces back to a ceasefire reached on 8 April, following 40 days of fighting that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February. After the truce, Iranian and US delegations held one round of peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan on 11 and 12 April, which failed to produce an agreement.

Over the weeks since, both sides have reportedly exchanged several proposed frameworks outlining conditions for a permanent end to hostilities, with Pakistan serving as mediator. None of those proposals have led to a breakthrough.

What This Means for the Region

The renewed discussion of military action — even as mediated talks nominally continue — reflects the fragility of the April ceasefire. Notably, this is the first confirmed direct conversation between Netanyahu and Trump specifically focused on the prospect of resuming the Iran conflict since the truce took hold. Regional observers warn that a return to hostilities would carry far broader consequences than the initial 40-day campaign, given Iran's retaliatory capabilities and the involvement of proxy networks across the Middle East.

All eyes are now on Tehran's next diplomatic move, with the clock — as Trump put it — reportedly ticking.