Exit polls giving way to partial counts dominated coverage, with Netanyahu's bloc holding 53-55 seats to 48-50 for Eisenkot's opponents, short of 61. Both men claimed they would form a government as the Arab list reached a record 19 seats, a kingmaker role exile outlets stressed and state media framed as the end of the Netanyahu era. Trump claimed his endorsement shifted the race.
Attention turned to what the deadlock meant for Iran after Netanyahu spoke of a third strike and Trump said war would end when he decided. Araghchi said Tehran remained in close contact with mediators over a seven-day proposal tied to Hormuz, which Reuters described as a Qatari draft presented in Tehran, as regional outlets reported Saudi pressure on Washington for patience amid talk of a short, intense US operation.
At home, exile outlets reported inflation near 77-88% and warnings of gas cuts in 11 provinces.