West Asia crisis | Israeli PM Netanyahu asked my opinion about what to do with Iran: Trump

Former United States (US) president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Sunday (Oct 20) spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the escalating conflict in West Asia.

Trump told reporters that Prime Minister Netanyahuhad asked his opinion on what to do about Iran.

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"We talked. I congratulated him on obviously doing a very good job keeping Israel safe. He's doing very well. He calls me on occasion. I think he wants my views on things. He's had very little cooperation from the White House, as you know," Trump said, as reported bynews agency Reuters.

"They don't; they didn't want him to do anything, and they would not be in the good position they're in right now if they listened to the White House, which I guess would be a combination of Kamala and Joe. They're not happy about that either, I will tell you. Israel's not happy about that," he added.

'Israel will make decisions based on national interests'

Trump's comments came hours after Netanyahu's office said that Israel took into account the issues that the US raised, "but in the end, will make its decisions based on its national interests."

Israel has beenpondering its military reaction to the October 1 missile attack by Iran.

Last week, the Israeli government said that it would consider Washington's opinion on Iranbut would act against an Iranian missile attack based on its "national interests."

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Earlier, US President Joe Biden had cautioned Israel against strikingIran's nuclear or oil facilities to avoid a further regional escalation amid concerns over global energy prices.

Willing to strike military facilities in Iran: Israel

On October 1, Iran launched about200 missiles atIsraelin retaliation to an Israeli strike in Beirut that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian general Abbas Nilforoushan.

Earlier, Netanyahu told Washington that he was willing tostrike military rather than oil or nuclear facilities in Iran, the Washington Post said in a report last week.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign MinisterAbbas Araqchi saidthat Tehran would not hesitate to take "strong defensive actions" if Israel retaliated for the October 1 missile attack.

Iran is "fully prepared to take stronger defensive actions, if necessary, in response to any further aggression, and will not hesitate to do so," Araqchi said in a letter to other foreign ministers, according to a ministry post on X.

(With inputs from agencies)