Israeli jets were poised to strike Iran this morning before Donald Trump intervened with a call to Benjamin Netanyahu, sources have told Yalda Hakim. Trump has also publicly lashed out at Iran and Israel for ceasefire “violations”, swearing at the warring countries. Follow the latest.
We brought you a screenshot shared by Donald Trump earlier, showing a gushing text sent by NATO chief Mark Rutte.
“Donald, you have driven us to a really really important moment for America and Europe, and the world,” it reads in part of the long message.
But if Rutte is upset that Trump publicised that message, he isn’t showing it.
“I have absolutely no trouble or problem with that because there’s nothing in it which had to stay secret,” he told reporters.
The pair are due to cross paths shortly, with the president on his way to a NATO summit in the Netherlands.
See the text for yourself below…
Analysis: Trump’s X-rated rant is reminder there’s one F word he fears most
By James Matthews, US correspondent
Failure – it’s the F-word Donald Trump fears most.
Hence the early morning rant from a president – F for frustrated.
The day before had seen head-spinning developments in which a ceasefire between Israel and Iran turned on a Truth Social post.
If it felt fragile, that’s how it appeared overnight.
There were exchanges between both sides beyond the deadline and the president woke up frustrated.
An unlikely diplomatic result looked exactly that.
Trump’s four-lettered fury was aimed primarily at Israel.
You can watch that moment here:
It gave a Tuesday morning appearance of an ally that had reeled him into the fight and wasn’t letting go.
It also leant into doubts around Trump’s influence over Israel.
If this process is heading towards nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran, Trump doesn’t need questions surrounding his relationship with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
Tehran needs to believe Trump can tighten the leash.
Iran’s lingering suspicion surrounds Israel’s long-held ambition for regime change.
It will be comforted by communications from the Israeli prime minister’s office that followed what feels like a full, frank exchange between Trump and Netanyahu in a call from Air Force One.
It read: “President Trump expressed his immense appreciation for Israel, which achieved all the war’s objectives.”
The wording speaks to Israel having moved beyond aggression.
Time will tell, and this ceasefire feels fragile still, but it’ll do for Trump, the self-styled peacemaker making peace – one social media post at a time.
