Trump reins in Netanyahu over Lebanon after Iran threatens to quit talks

President Trump on Monday pulled the brakes on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to bomb Hezbollah targets in Beirut after Iran threatened to abandon its negotiations with the U.S. over Israel's actions in Lebanon. An Israeli official told Axios the planned strikes on Beirut would not be happening. Why it matters: Trump's decision to rein in Netanyahu was a clear signal that he doesn't want his key ally to get in the way of a deal with Iran . Trump claimed on Monday after his call with Netanyahu that the Iran negotiations "are continuing, at a rapid pace." Driving the news: On Monday, Netanyahu issued a joint statement with Defense Minister Israel Katz threatening to bomb Hezbollah targets in the Dahieh District of Beirut "following repeated violations of the ceasefire" by the Iran-backed militia. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued his own warning on X that Israel's actions in Lebanon were a violation of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, and the U.S. and Israel would bear "the consequences of any violation." Iranian officials told the semi-official Tasnim news agency that no talks with the U.S. would take place until Israel stopped its attacks in Lebanon, and threatened retaliation in the Strait of Hormuz and possibly "other fronts." Hours later, Trump spoke with Netanyahu. He released a Truth Social post afterwards claiming Israel and Hezbollah would stop attacking each other, though no such truce appears to have been agreed. Between the lines: The U.S. has urged Israel against striking Beirut for several weeks as part of a broader deescalation push, but a U.S. official hinted on Sunday that position could soften. "The U.S. does not expect Israel to absorb ongoing attacks on its civilians by a terrorist organization," the official told Axios. Israel appeared poised on Monday to proceed with massive strikes. The Israeli military issued a statement in Arabic urging "all residents of the Dahieh District...

Original source: Axios