Israeli media reported that US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a “very heated exchange” during a phone call over the weekend, with the two leaders clashing over whether to resume the war with Iran.
According to Ynet, the news website of Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, Netanyahu pressed Trump during the call to resume military strikes against Iran, while the US president insisted on pursuing diplomacy and giving peace negotiations with Tehran a chance. The disagreement comes amid growing differences between Washington and Tel Aviv over the future of the conflict.
One source described the conversation as difficult, while another said it descended into “a shouting match from hell,” highlighting the extent of the tension between the two leaders.
Netanyahu’s office, however, denied that the call had been confrontational or tense. A senior Israeli official confirmed that the conversation had taken place but insisted that it was “by no means a difficult conversation.”
Meanwhile, the White House told US network Fox News that the United States was in a strong position in its confrontation with Iran, saying: “The United States is in a very strong position, with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing.”
It added: “President Trump is in the driver's seat and holds all the cards. He will do what is in the best interests of the United States.”
The latest reported disagreement follows an earlier clash between Trump and Netanyahu last June, when reports emerged that the US president had called the Israeli prime minister “crazy” during a phone conversation.
The Financial Times also reported that Netanyahu has been calling Trump daily in an effort to pressure him into resuming the war with Iran.
According to Ynet, the news website of Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, Netanyahu pressed Trump during the call to resume military strikes against Iran, while the US president insisted on pursuing diplomacy and giving peace negotiations with Tehran a chance. The disagreement comes amid growing differences between Washington and Tel Aviv over the future of the conflict.
One source described the conversation as difficult, while another said it descended into “a shouting match from hell,” highlighting the extent of the tension between the two leaders.
Netanyahu’s office, however, denied that the call had been confrontational or tense. A senior Israeli official confirmed that the conversation had taken place but insisted that it was “by no means a difficult conversation.”
Meanwhile, the White House told US network Fox News that the United States was in a strong position in its confrontation with Iran, saying: “The United States is in a very strong position, with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing.”
It added: “President Trump is in the driver's seat and holds all the cards. He will do what is in the best interests of the United States.”
The latest reported disagreement follows an earlier clash between Trump and Netanyahu last June, when reports emerged that the US president had called the Israeli prime minister “crazy” during a phone conversation.
The Financial Times also reported that Netanyahu has been calling Trump daily in an effort to pressure him into resuming the war with Iran.
