Trump threatened Netanyahu with withdrawal of support – Axios

Trump has held several heated phone conversations with the Israeli leader after Iran announced last week that it was suspending talks with the US over repeated Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

Iran’s conditions for a peace agreement include the cessation of hostilities on “all fronts,” including Lebanon, where nearly 3,700 people have been killed since early March, when Israel resumed strikes in response to attacks by Hezbollah.

Israel and Iran exchanged strikes on Sunday and Monday for the first time since a ceasefire was reached in April, following an Israeli strike in Beirut.

Axios reported on Monday that Trump said in a phone interview with the outlet that he had warned Netanyahu that “if he went back to war with Iran, he might find himself fighting alone.” Trump previously confirmed reports that he had called Netanyahu “f**king crazy” during an earlier conversation.

BBC North America editor Sarah Smith said Trump told her by phone on Monday that he had urged the Israeli leader to “use common sense,” adding that he was “very close to signing a very powerful deal” with Iran.

Multiple reports said Trump tried to persuade Netanyahu not to retaliate after Iran launched 11 missiles, all of which were intercepted. According to Smith, Trump said Netanyahu told him that Israeli missiles “were already on the way” by the time they spoke.

Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said the strikes in Lebanon and the naval blockade of Iranian ports made the US and Israel legitimate targets.

“They are neither committed to a ceasefire nor believe in dialogue,” he wrote on X on Sunday.

Iran, along with some of Trump’s domestic critics, has accused the US president of starting the war entirely at Israel’s behest. Trump, however, has argued that he “calls the shots” and recently said that Israel would have no choice but to accept whatever terms he agreed with Iran.