Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that President Donald Trump is making the decisions regarding the Iran conflict and denied any effort to convince the U.S. president to resume attacks against Iran. Netanyahu also expressed skepticism about the possibility of a diplomatic resolution with the Iranian regime, citing a history of deception.
"I'm skeptical about Iran's modus operandi, I mean, the method of operating. They always lie, they always cheat, and they always play for time," Netanyahu said in an interview on ABC News Live Prime. He added that diplomatic and economic pressure might change this behavior and suggested trying that approach.
Netanyahu affirmed his belief that Trump leads the U.S.-Israeli partnership, noting that the U.S. is the senior partner. "But I'm the prime minister of Israel, and when I have to stand up for the interest of my country and the security of my country, I do so," he stated, while also expressing appreciation for the U.S. role under Trump.
The prime minister's remarks followed a period of reported tension between the two leaders. Netanyahu stated that recent conversations with Vice President J.D. Vance had smoothed over Vance's earlier claims that elements within Netanyahu's government were manipulating U.S. public opinion and running campaigns to derail peace negotiations with Iran. "We're not. That's not our policy," Netanyahu said regarding Vance's allegations.
Netanyahu acknowledged concerns about declining American support for Israel, which he attributed to the proliferation of social media and the use of bot farms by other countries to influence public opinion. "I want bipartisan support for Israel because I think that's a fundament of our national security," he said.
U.S. and Israeli officials had previously confirmed that Netanyahu intended to present intelligence to Trump during their meeting to encourage continued military action against Iran. However, Trump had also suggested that Netanyahu was sharing information "because he wants me to stay involved."
During his interview, Netanyahu denied that he misled Trump into the conflict or that regime change was easily achievable. He stated that he and Trump discussed multiple options to resolve the Iran conflict, including negotiations, blockading the Strait of Hormuz, or further military action. "We actually analyzed all three possibilities, and I thought we did it in an open way between friends and allies, and it's his decision. It's his decision," Netanyahu said.
Regarding Iran's current state, Netanyahu assessed that the country is weaker than before, though he did not believe the regime had collapsed after five months of conflict. He suggested that Iran's ability to weaponize the Strait of Hormuz remained unpredictable but predicted that the waterway would lose its leverage over the global oil market after the conflict, as alternative pipelines would be developed.
Netanyahu reiterated his primary goal: to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. "And that's something that President Trump and I both agree on, because it would be a different world," he said. While he could not predict a timeline for the Iranian regime's downfall, he expressed confidence that "it ultimately will be."