Netanyahu Disappointed US Delays Iran Strike Due to Hajj Season
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his disappointment to US President Donald Trump over the delay in striking Iran. During a phone call on Sunday (May 17, 2026), Trump had mentioned a planned attack for Tuesday (May 19, 2026), but then postponed it at the request of Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
Netanyahu thought the delay was a mistake that only benefited Iran. An Israeli official source said the call lasted about an hour and was tense, with Netanyahu continuing to push for the strike to go on.
According to a Gulf official source, the delay was influenced by the start of the Hajj season in Saudi Arabia on May 24, 2026. Trump’s aides warned that striking during Hajj could trigger a regional crisis, leave millions of pilgrims stranded, and damage America’s reputation in the Muslim world.
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