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US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly held a tense phone call over renewed efforts to secure a nuclear agreement with Iran. While Trump remains open to diplomacy, Netanyahu is said to favour a tougher stance. Regional mediators are pushing a revised proposal involving nuclear commitments, sanctions relief, and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a "difficult" phone call, during which they discussed renewed diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement with Iran, Axios reported, citing multiple sources.

As per Axios, the call comes amid intensified mediation efforts involving Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt to bridge differences between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear programme and broader regional issues. One source was quoted as saying Netanyahu was extremely upset after the conversation, stating that his "hair was on fire" following the call.

The developments come as a revised draft proposal, reportedly prepared with inputs from regional mediators, is being considered to narrow gaps between the United States and Iran. The proposal is said to aim at securing clearer commitments from Tehran on its nuclear programme while also outlining conditions for the possible release of frozen Iranian assets.

Axios sources said Trump remains open to a negotiated settlement but has also indicated that military action remains an option if talks fail. "The only question is do we go and finish it up or are they gonna be signing a document. Let's see what happens," Trump said in Wednesday at the Coast Guard Academy. Later on the same day he added that the situation remains "on the borderline" between a deal and renewed conflict.