Reported tensions between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu highlight differences over renewed military action against Iran as Washington signals support for diplomacy.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have reportedly clashed over whether to resume military strikes against Iran, highlighting growing differences between Washington and Tel Aviv over the future of the conflict.
According to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the two leaders held a tense telephone conversation over the weekend as Netanyahu pressed Trump to consider renewed military action against Tehran. The newspaper cited sources familiar with the discussion, one of whom reportedly described the exchange as extremely bitter and involving intense shouting.
However, Netanyahu’s office rejected reports of a hostile conversation, dismissing the claims as baseless. A senior Israeli official confirmed that the leaders had spoken but insisted their discussion was neither aggressive nor bitter. Anadolu Agency also reported the conflicting accounts on Tuesday.
The reported disagreement comes as Netanyahu continues urging Washington to restart military operations against Iran. The Financial Times had previously reported that the Israeli prime minister was contacting Trump daily to advocate renewed attacks.
Washington, meanwhile, has increasingly emphasized economic pressure and diplomatic engagement rather than immediately launching another large-scale military campaign.
Trump said Monday that key Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait, strongly opposed fresh military action against Iran. He also indicated that the prospects of another major American military operation were diminishing following appeals from regional partners.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced that position on Tuesday, saying Washington currently saw no need to resume major combat operations against Tehran.
Speaking after meetings with G7 foreign ministers in Paris, Rubio said economic sanctions and a US naval blockade were placing substantial pressure on Iran. He argued that Washington could pursue its objectives through economic measures without immediately returning to military strikes.
Rubio nevertheless warned that American forces remained prepared to respond if Iran crossed Washington’s stated red lines. His remarks reflected the administration’s current emphasis on maintaining economic pressure while keeping military options available.
Diplomatic efforts have also shown signs of progress. Qatari mediators said Tuesday they had received initial positive responses from both Washington and Tehran regarding efforts to resolve the conflict. However, it remains uncertain whether the diplomatic contacts will produce a comprehensive agreement.
The United States and Israel launched joint military operations against Iran on Feb. 28. Subsequent diplomatic contacts and a framework memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran raised hopes of progress, but negotiations have yet to deliver a comprehensive peace agreement.
The latest reports of tensions between Trump and Netanyahu underline the differing approaches emerging within the US-Israel partnership. While Netanyahu is pushing for renewed military pressure against Tehran, Washington is currently highlighting sanctions, regional diplomacy and the possibility of a negotiated settlement.
Whether these diplomatic efforts can prevent another round of military escalation remains uncertain.
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