The White House says President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone and discussed Iran�s �malign actions� in the Middle East.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said Thursday the two leaders discussed cooperation �in advancing shared national security interests, including efforts to prevent Iran�s malign actions in the region.�

Netanyahu�s office said in a statement that he �expressed his appreciation for the President�s intention to increase sanctions on Iran.�

The Israeli premier delivered a thinly veiled threat to Iran earlier this week shortly after Tehran announced it had started enriching uranium beyond the limit set by a 2015 agreement with world powers. Netanyahu has been a vocal critic of Iran and has vowed that he would never allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

(AP)