Trump-Netanyahu Relations Strain Over Iran Strategy
Growing tensions between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have emerged over diverging strategies on Iran and Gaza, threatening what was once considered an ironclad alliance.
The two leaders, previously aligned on Middle East policy, now find themselves increasingly at odds over how to handle key regional challenges as their strategic priorities diverge.
Diplomatic Divide Over Iran’s Nuclear Program
Netanyahu was particularly upset when Trump said Wednesday that he had yet to decide whether Iran would be allowed to enrich uranium under a new nuclear deal his administration is negotiating, according to NBC News.
Where Netanyahu sees an opportunity to eliminate Iran’s nuclear facilities through military strikes, Trump is pursuing a diplomatic solution that could allow Iran to maintain some civilian nuclear capabilities – a red line for Israeli security interests.
“They’re worried about any deal,” a U.S. official told NBC News regarding the Israeli government’s concerns about Trump’s diplomatic approach to Iran.
Conflicting Visions for Gaza
The strain extends to Gaza policy, where Trump has grown frustrated with Netanyahu’s new military offensive, which the president sees as undermining his vision for rebuilding the territory into what he has described as a “Riviera of the Middle East,” according to Axios.
While Trump pushes for a ceasefire to begin reconstruction efforts, Netanyahu has authorized expanded operations in parts of Gaza, creating what U.S. officials describe as a significant policy rift.
These disagreements played out during Netanyahu adviser Ron Dermer’s tense meeting with Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, at the White House on Thursday.
Houthi Deal Widens Division
Netanyahu was blindsided by Trump’s announcement that the U.S. was halting its military campaign against the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen after they agreed to stop firing on U.S. ships, according to diplomatic sources cited by Politico.
The Israeli leader was particularly incensed since the Houthis had just attacked Israel with a missile that hit close to Ben Gurion Airport shortly before Trump’s deal was announced.
“After Trump halted the U.S. military campaign against the Iranian-backed Houthi militant group, a shocked Netanyahu said Israel would then defend itself,” according to sources familiar with the exchange.
Strategic Implications
Despite these tensions, Netanyahu faces political constraints in pushing back too forcefully against Trump, who remains extremely popular with the Israeli leader’s domestic political base.
Trump is set to travel to the Middle East next week, with stops scheduled in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, but notably not Israel – a scheduling decision some observers interpret as reflective of the current strain.
The two leaders’ diverging approaches to Iran could have significant implications for regional stability, with Israeli officials believing the window for military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities is narrowing while the U.S. negotiates.
