Trump speaks with Netanyahu about U.S. operations in the Gulf

What This is

• Trump and Netanyahu spoke by phone after the U.S. carried out operations in the Persian Gulf, and they agreed to keep close coordination.
• The call came amid renewed U.S.-Iran exchanges of strikes that followed attacks on ships and other targets in the region.
• The U.S. pressed Iran to publicly say the Strait of Hormuz will stay open and that ships will not be attacked.
• Iran warned it would retaliate for U.S. strikes and said some attacks hit civilian infrastructure, reporting deaths.
• Reports said Israel shared intelligence warning of an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump, and the issue was discussed alongside broader coordination.

Why This Matters

• A slide from limited strikes to sustained fighting could widen the conflict across the Middle East and raise the risk of direct U.S.-Iran war.
• Violence in the Strait of Hormuz can threaten energy shipments and insurance costs, pushing up fuel prices well beyond the region.
• U.S.-Israel coordination can improve deterrence, but it can also speed escalation if either side feels compelled to match or exceed the other’s response.
• With nuclear talks paused, there are fewer trusted channels to prevent misreading threats or accidents, making crises harder to stop once they start.