A phone call between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last weekend reportedly descended into a “shouting match from hell.”
Sources familiar with the conversation told Israeli outlet Ynet that the exchange became unusually heated after Netanyahu pressured Trump to resume strikes against Iran.
F-35I Adir Fighter from Israel. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The two leaders are believed to differ in their approaches to Iran, with the president preferring a diplomatic approach to end the conflict.
Netanyahu Pushes for Strikes as Trump Holds Back
Prime Minister Netanyahu is reportedly pushing President Trump to resume the military campaign against Iran not seen since the war’s initial weeks earlier this year.
Negotiations with Tehran have proved futile, with no agreement to end the war readily in sight.
Washington has led an economic campaign against Iran in the absence of continual bombardment, blocking Iranian ports and placing economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic and its trading partners.
According to reports, the ongoing status quo has frustrated the Israeli prime minister, who has been calling the U.S. president on a near-daily basis. One call over the weekend descended into what sources speaking to Ynet described as a “shouting match from hell,” a claim Netanyahu’s office denied.
The disagreements have been public, too. While Trump has repeatedly stated that Iran must never be able to obtain a nuclear weapon, he has rescinded previous comments calling for regime change to achieve that goal — something Netanyahu has openly advocated for throughout the conflict.
Previous Clashes Between the Two Leaders
Trump and Netanyahu have clashed on numerous occasions, including before the conflict began. After last year’s 12-day war between Israel and Iran, Trump said the two leaders “don’t know what the f*** they’re doing” after strikes resumed hours after a ceasefire took effect.
Earlier this year, the U.S. president reportedly called the Israeli prime minister “fucking crazy” in another heated telephone call between the two.
F-16I Sufa. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
F-16I Fighter from Israel. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
In an interview in June, podcast host Miranda Devine asked Trump: “You said ‘are you fucking crazy’, ‘what are you fucking doing’, ‘I helped you stay out of jail’. Is that true? Did you speak to him in those terms?”
“I did,” the president replied. “I wouldn’t say angry; I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon. At some point I said, ‘Bibi, you’ve got to stop this. You’ve got to stop it.’”
Trump nevertheless insisted at the time that the two leaders remain amicable.
U.S. Pursues Status Quo of Economic Damage
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told G7 foreign ministers in Paris on Tuesday that Trump did not have to choose between restarting a major offensive and accepting an unfavorable agreement, according to Axios, citing three people in the room.
“The president doesn’t just have two options,” Rubio reportedly explained. “It’s not just return to war or sign a ridiculous peace deal. We won’t do a stupid deal. The third option we have is to continue to do what we do now.”
Rubio added that the economic sanctions and ongoing naval blockade were continuing to disrupt the Iranian economy, limiting its ability to fund terrorist groups or rebuild its armed forces.
“The president is not under false time pressure. The Iranians are inflicting major damage on their own economy,” Rubio continued.
Speaking to reporters after the G7 meeting, Rubio asserted that the economic campaign would not amount to a stalemate, adding: “The economic pain that is being inflicted on Iran right now is extraordinary, and it compounds. It’s growing every day.”
Iranian Leader Calls for End to No War, No Peace Situation
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been publicly seen since the war began at the end of February, has reportedly told senior officials to end the current status quo.
“The supreme leader ordered us to end the no war, no peace situation,” said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian earlier this week. “We can hold talks with dignity and bring the matter to an end with dignity.”
F-16I Sufa Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
While Trump said earlier this week that a renewed military offensive was “highly unlikely,” Iran will “not limit ourselves to nearby bases” should fighting resume, according to Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei.
“We may even target some American military bases in European countries,” he told Al Mayadeen on Wednesday.
About the Author: Shay Bottomley
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist. He has written for the Western Standard, Business Insider, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo.
