Trump and Netanyahu clash over Iran war strategy
Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump held a tense conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. The discussion revealed differing views on the next steps regarding the war with Iran, CNN reports.
What preceded it
According to the publication, this was not their first conversation in recent days. When the two leaders spoke on Sunday, May 17, Trump said that he would most likely launch new attacks on Iran at the beginning of the week. According to CNN, the operation was supposed to be called Sledgehammer.
However, about 24 hours after that first conversation, Trump announced a halt to the strikes, which he said had been planned for Tuesday at the request of allies in the Persian Gulf.
According to the source, after that, the Gulf countries remained in close contact with the United States and Pakistani mediators, working on a framework agreement that could facilitate further diplomatic negotiations.
Against this background, Trump said on Wednesday that the sides were in the final stages of negotiations with Iran.
Where Trump and Netanyahu differed
According to the publication, the continuation of negotiations is causing dissatisfaction for the Israeli prime minister, who has long advocated for a more aggressive approach toward Tehran. According to Trump administration officials and Israeli officials, Netanyahu argues that the delay only benefits the Iranians.
Therefore, on Tuesday, Netanyahu expressed his frustration, telling Trump that, in his opinion, postponing the expected attacks was a mistake and that the president should act according to the plan, a US official said.
At the same time, an Israeli source says that Netanyahu is skeptical about the possibility of reaching a deal through negotiations, especially given that Iran still refuses to give up enriched uranium. That is the very issue that remains a stumbling block in the negotiations. The source says Netanyahu insisted on resuming military action.
Summing up, the Israeli official said the disagreement was obvious: Trump wants to see whether a deal can be reached, while Netanyahu expected something else.
What else is known
A day earlier, Donald Trump said the United States was ready to continue attacks on Iran if Tehran did not agree to a peace deal. At the same time, he added that he was ready to wait a few more days to get the right answers.
On May 21, it became known that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei approved a directive under which stockpiles of enriched uranium close to weapons-grade level must not be moved outside the country.
