Netanyahu says Trump will decide whether to resume full action against Iran; downplays rift with US president | Today’s news
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday (local time) that any return to full-scale military action against Iran would be a decision made by President Donald Trump, adding that US and Israeli forces were ready.
Netanyahu said this in an interview with CNBC. Asked if there really is a truce with Tehran, the Israeli prime minister replied: “I think a tactical game is being played.” He added: “And Iran certainly knows what (Trump) has said, that there will be a full return to military action if necessary.”
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He continued: “It’s the president’s decision; Israel is ready and American forces are ready. I think Iran should take that into account. I think they take into account that they’re playing with fire; that’s clear.”
Netanyahu downplays disagreement with Trump
He also played down any hint of a rift with the US president, saying that while they sometimes have “tactical disagreements”, they “agree on the main things”. He said: “Sometimes, as in the best of families, we have these tactical disagreements, but we always find a way to work them out and we do it as great friends.”
The Israeli prime minister added: “We can disagree in the morning” and find common ground in the afternoon.
Trump admits to tense exchange with Netanyahu
His remarks came after Trump confirmed in an interview released Wednesday that he had a tense exchange with Netanyahu two days earlier in which he allegedly hurled abuse at his close ally. The incident came on Monday after Israel’s escalation in Lebanon, after which Tehran announced it was suspending peace talks with Washington.
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Citing US officials, Axios reported on the development, noting that Trump told Netanyahu: “You’re fucking crazy. If it wasn’t for me, you’d be in jail. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of it.”
According to the official, Trump told Bibi that following through on his threats to bomb Beirut would further isolate Israel from the rest of the world.
In an interview released Wednesday, Trump said he was “concerned” about the situation in Lebanon when he spoke with Netanyahu on Monday. However, he continued that he had a “very good relationship” with Netanyahu. “We got on well together… I really like Bibi.”
US-Iran peace deal in limbo?
The two leaders’ remarks come at a time when tensions have escalated in the Persian Gulf region. The US and Iran traded blows overnight, putting further pressure on a shaky truce and disrupting peace talks. On Wednesday, the passenger building at the Kuwait International Airport was hit by an Iranian drone strike, resulting in the death of an Indian national and injuries to several others. The Islamic Republic accused Bahrain and Kuwait of allowing Washington to use their territory to attack an Iranian tanker and an island as it condemned the US for the attacks.
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Kuwait, a staunch US ally that hosts thousands of US troops, has reportedly become a key target for Iran since a ceasefire took effect on April 8, suffering half a dozen attacks in the past two months.
The overnight barrage, involving about 30 projectiles, marked the most serious attack since the ceasefire took effect, with three strikes hitting Kuwait’s airport and a nearby military facility, according to a source familiar with the matter. As Washington and Tehran continue talks aimed at ending the conflict, the two sides continue to exchange regular attacks, while US allies in the region increasingly bear the brunt of Iran’s anger, Bloomberg reported.
However, it remains to be seen whether Trump will decide to return to full military action against Tehran, or whether the two sides will finally make progress in peace talks.
Key things
- Netanyahu is deferring the decision on military action against Iran to Trump, emphasizing the US president’s key role in the conflict.
- There are reports of a rift between Trump and Netanyahu, but Netanyahu downplays the differences and emphasizes a mutual readiness for action.
- Tensions are rising in the Persian Gulf region as clashes between the US and Iran continue, raising uncertainty over possible progress in peace talks.
