US President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he discussed whether and when to intensify combat operations against Iran, American media reported on Sunday.

According to the portal Axios, an American and Israeli official suggested that the two leaders discussed the performance of negotiations with Tehran on Saturday.

Netanyahu pressured the American president to launch attacks on Iran immediately after the US mid-election, while Trump voiced the desire for negotiations to continue.

The Israeli source described the conversation as harsh, while the American source described it as direct, reports Axios.

Later Sunday Trump confirmed that he had talked to Netanyah on Saturday.

As soon as I had a very good conversation with him, Trump said, adding that one of the topics of discussion was Iran.

During the eight-month war, Trump has pursued a double approach to Tehran: on the one hand, a campaign of air strikes and other military action, and on the other hand, efforts to reach an agreement that would enable the resumption of peace talks and the complete opening of the Hormuz Strait for vital transport of oil and gas.

On Saturday, the president said before reporters that negotiations with Iran to end the war are going well, adding that there are still one or two targets left to be addressed.

He also stressed that Washington is not in a hurry to take offensive action, as it has already largely destroyed Iran’s military and its nuclear programme.

Talks between Trump and Netanyah followed the statement by Iran’s head of security, Mohsen Rezaei, who announced on Saturday that he had received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance, in which the revival of stalled talks was required.

As another indicator that mediators are interested in restarting negotiations, a delegation from Qatar arrived in Tehran on Friday for talks with Iranian officials, state media reported.

Trump has faced great political pressure over the Middle East war.

U.S. election selectors are indignant at rising fuel prices and other living costs of discontent that they can express through their vote. /Telegraph/