Trump and Netanyahu get into shouting match from hell over Iran war

Divergent war aims

The reported clash reflects fundamentally different theories of the case between Washington and Jerusalem. Netanyahu, addressing the 26th Knesset assembly on Tuesday, declared that Iran is working to renew the nuclear threat. The only way to permanently remove this existential threat is by toppling the ayatollah regime. His position has hardened since October's general election, in which his party lost seats and his long tenure as Israel's longest-serving prime minister was weakened.

Trump, by contrast, has steered away from restarting the war. Asked during a "60 Minutes" interview on Sunday whether he would resume strikes, he said he did not think there's any reason to. A White House spokesperson told Fox News that the United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing, adding that Operation Economic Outcast, and the new Operation Iron Gate will continue with full effect. President Trump holds all the cards and will do whatever is best for the United States.

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Pattern of heated exchanges

The weekend call is not the first time the two leaders have clashed sharply. In June, Trump told The Post he had called Netanyahu f–king crazy during a phone conversation over Israel's military operations. In an interview with conservative commentator Miranda Devine that month, Trump confirmed the language: I did. 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’. He insisted at the time that the relationship remained cordial.

According to the Financial Times, Netanyahu has been calling Trump almost daily to press for a resumption of all-out war. Those who don’t want a war within the White House and outside have been trying to combat that, a person briefed on the discussions told the newspaper.

Iran escalates threats

The disagreement comes as Iran has raised the stakes. On Wednesday, Iranian Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei told Beirut-based Al Mayadeen: If the Americans make a mistake and attack us, we will not limit ourselves to nearby bases. We may even target some American military bases in European countries. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have remained deadlocked for months, with both sides holding firm to their demands.

What to watch next

• Whether Netanyahu's daily pressure campaign on Trump intensifies or eases after the reported confrontation.
• Progress or collapse of the diplomatic track Trump favors, as talks have remained deadlocked for months.
• Iranian responses to the continued naval blockade under Operation Economic Outcast and Operation Iron Gate.
• Domestic political fallout for Netanyahu, whose coalition remains fragile after October's election losses.
• Any sign of US military posture changes in the Strait of Hormuz or wider region.

The episode underscores a widening gap: Israel's leader sees military action and regime change as the only path to security, while the American president bets on economic strangulation and diplomacy. For now, Trump's refusal to restart the war holds. But with Netanyahu calling daily, Iranian threats expanding, and shipping attacks rising, the pressure on that decision is only growing.