US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a contentious phone call last week over how to confront Iran’s nuclear ambitions, according to multiple reports citing senior officials. While both leaders agreed that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, they reportedly clashed over the strategy to achieve that goal. President Trump is said to have pushed for a diplomatic resolution, telling Netanyahu, “I believe in my ability to make a good deal,” while the Israeli leader maintained a tougher stance.
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Netanyahu’s office initially released a readout of the call stating that both leaders “agreed on the need to ensure that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons,” downplaying the reported tension. But according to Israel’s Channel 12, President Trump made clear that he expects Netanyahu to work with the American administration in pursuit of a peaceful resolution, warning that the timeline for diplomacy was short.
President Trump continues to tout progress in US-Iran nuclear talks, though Tehran’s Foreign Ministry maintains that no new round of negotiations has been scheduled and has rejected calls to suspend uranium enrichment.