#Axios: Trump, Netanyahu push new Iran deal efforts in critical call

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a tense phone call on Tuesday, May 19, to discuss renewed efforts toward a potential agreement with Iran, Axios reports, citing three sources.

According to the report, Qatar and Pakistan—along with Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt—have prepared an updated draft peace memorandum aimed at bridging differences between Washington and Tehran.

During the call, Trump told Netanyahu that mediators are working on a “letter of intent” that the United States and Iran would sign to formally end hostilities and initiate a 30-day negotiation period covering key issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the outlet cited a US source familiar with the conversation as saying.

Two Israeli sources quoted by Axios said the leaders disagreed on the next steps, while a US source noted that Netanyahu’s “hair was on fire” following the call. According to Israeli officials, Netanyahu has expressed deep concern at earlier stages of negotiations as well, even when previous deals ultimately collapsed.

The report, citing two Arab officials and an Israeli source, said Qatar recently presented a new draft to both the United States and Iran. However, a fourth source claimed there was no separate Qatari proposal, suggesting instead that Doha is attempting to reconcile differences based on a prior Pakistani initiative.

One Arab official said Qatar dispatched a delegation to Tehran earlier this week to hold talks with Iranian officials on the latest proposal.

The goal, according to the source, is to secure more tangible commitments from Iran regarding steps tied to its nuclear program, while obtaining clearer guarantees from the United States on the gradual unfreezing of Iranian assets.

All three sources emphasised that it remains unclear whether Iran will accept the new proposal or significantly shift its position.