Akshay DidwaniyaUS President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a difficult phone call on Tuesday one that left Netanyahu deeply alarmed. The two leaders disagreed sharply over what to do next about Iran, as regional mediators worked urgently on a revised peace framework.
Trump-Netanyahu Iran Call Ends in Disagreement: What Happened?
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu got on a phone call Tuesday and by the time it ended, things were anything but smooth. The two leaders clashed over how to handle the ongoing Iran situation, according to people familiar with the conversation. An American source said Netanyahu walked away from the call feeling deeply unsettled.
“Netanyahu is deeply skeptical of the negotiations and wants to resume the war… The two leaders had disagreements over what to do next,” the report stated.
Netanyahu Pushes for War, Trump Wants Diplomacy
The Israeli prime minister has made no secret of his distrust of any deal with Tehran. Sources say Netanyahu has been pushing hard to return to military action while Trump is leaning toward a diplomatic path. The gap between them already wide appears to be growing wider by the day.
Trump reportedly told Netanyahu that mediators are working on a “letter of intent” a document the US and Iran would sign to formally end the war and kick off a 30-day negotiation window. Qatar, Pakistan, and several other regional players helped draft a revised peace memorandum aimed at bridging the divide between Washington and Tehran.
Regional Mediators Step In to Bridge the Gap
Qatar and Pakistan alongside other regional brokers have been quietly putting together a reworked peace plan. The goal is simple give both the US and Iran a structured diplomatic off-ramp before the situation spirals again. Analysts note that this mediating role for Islamabad marks a significant shift in regional dynamics.
Washington and Tel Aviv launched military strikes on Iranian territory on February 28, killing more than 3,000 people. The US and Iran declared a ceasefire on April 8 but talks held afterward in Islamabad collapsed without any agreement. There have been no reports of renewed fighting since yet the United States moved quickly to impose a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Also Read | Iran Warns It Has Untested Weapons Ready And Won’t Hold Back If the US Strikes Again
Was Israel Behind the US Entering the War?
Several American media outlets have suggested that Washington was pulled into the conflict largely by Israel’s pressure. The Washington Post reported that Netanyahu reportedly nudged Trump toward joining the fight during visits to the White House. The Biden-era backchannel strategy gave way to a more aggressive posture one some officials now appear to regret.
Israel, for its part, has not been surprised by growing talk of a US-Iran deal. Officials in Tel Aviv signaled earlier this month that they were aware a framework was being shaped even if they were unhappy about it.
Mayur Mohta
Pratik Agrawal
Aditya Didwaniya
