The exclusive call between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump, which was not previously reported, set the Iran war in motion. The call, held from the White House Situation Room, was part of months of intensive coordination between the two leaders, who met twice and spoke by phone 15 times in the two months leading up to the war. The U.S. and Israel had considered striking a week earlier than Saturday but postponed due to intelligence and operational reasons, including bad weather. The CIA confirmed the intelligence about Khamenei, which led to the meeting, and when Trump learned of the intelligence, he gave the final order to strike, 11 hours later, the war began. The White House had to justify the strikes after the bombs had already fallen.