Israel's Netanyahu tells Trump he will not be bound by Iran-US deal: report

Trump-Netanyahu ties strain over Mideast war as Trump pushes peace and urges Israel to curb strikes

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US president reportedly warns Israeli leader to 'stop blowing up buildings' while sidelining Tel Aviv in Iran peace negotiations. PHOTO: ANADOLU

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told United States President Donald Trump that Israel would not be bound by the agreement reached between the US and Iran, CNN reported on Thursday, citing an unnamed Israeli official.

The official said that Netanyahu was attempting to influence the ongoing 60-day negotiation process under the agreement, claiming that the Israeli premier is trying to shape the final agreement by using right-leaning media figures and senators close to him to pressure Trump.

According to the official, Netanyahu believed there would be no final agreement between the US and Iran and that Tehran would not genuinely accept restrictions on its nuclear programme.

The official also claimed that Netanyahu informed Trump that Israel was not bound by the agreement, which includes provisions on ending the war, including in Lebanon. One person was killed and another critically injured today in an Israeli drone strike targeting a car in southern Lebanon, despite the US-Iran understanding, according to Lebanese state media.

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The Israeli Prime Minister's Office has not yet issued an official statement on the claims.

Iran and the US announced on Sunday that they had reached a 14-point memorandum of understanding through a negotiation process mediated by Pakistan, aimed at ending the war and resolving disputes through talks.

The memorandum, known as the Islamabad Memorandum, entered into force after being signed digitally on Thursday by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Trump.

The agreement includes provisions on ending the war, including in Lebanon, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the US naval blockade on Iran.

Following the signing of the memorandum, the parties are expected to begin a 60-day negotiation process on issues including Iran's nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions in an effort to reach a final agreement.

Trump-Netanyahu relations fray over Mideast war strategy

The long-standing strategic partnership between Trump and Netanyahu has significantly deteriorated while the White House pursues a diplomatic exit from the war with Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported.

“Why are you blowing up buildings?" the US president reportedly asked Netanyahu during a tense phone call regarding Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Trump instructed the Israeli leader to “stop blowing up buildings”, expressing exhaustion with constant requests for expanded military action.

A senior US administration official familiar with the two leaders' calls said the discussions often involved the Israeli leader calling for more military action, and that Trump was tired of it.

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Sources familiar with the discussions claim Trump has grown sceptical of Netanyahu’s accuracy, often fact-checking the prime minister's claims with aides, something he didn’t regularly do in the past, according to the Journal.

In one exchange, the US president reportedly labelled the Israeli leader “crazy” and suggested he would be “in prison” without American backing, referring to charges of corruption, bribery, and breach of trust that Netanyahu faces.

The friction intensified as Washington moved to sign a peace deal with Tehran while largely sidelining Israeli input. According to the report, the draft of the US-Iran agreement was shown to Israeli officials days later.

While Netanyahu pushed for continued strikes on targets such as Kharg Island, Trump remained focused on the conflict’s economic toll, reportedly fearing a global downturn comparable to the Great Depression, a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939.

Meanwhile, some White House officials questioned whether Netanyahu was trying to prolong hostilities to strengthen his own domestic political position.

Despite the reported friction, Trump characterised the relationship on Tuesday as an "amazing partnership", while acknowledging tactical differences regarding Lebanon. He described Netanyahu as a "very good man" who occasionally "gets a little excited" during military operations.

“I say you can do a little softer touch, Bibi,” Trump said, noting that he advised the Israeli leader that he does not have to “knock down a building every time somebody walks into it that’s from Hezbollah”.

Trump reaffirmed the hierarchy of the alliance, stating that the Israeli leader recognises the US as the "big partner".

The newspaper said the Israeli Prime Minister's Office did not respond to a request for comment, and a White House official said that bilateral relations were "great" before adding: “No country or leader pressures President Trump to do anything.”