Shouting match from hell: Trump, Netanyahu clash over future of Iran war

Detailed summary

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly argued by telephone over whether to renew military action against Iran. Israel denied any confrontation as the US president continued to favour diplomacy and economic pressure.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a heated telephone conversation over the weekend that descended into a "shouting match from hell," amid disagreements over the future course of the war with Iran, according to Israeli media reports. Netanyahu reportedly pressed for renewed military action, while Trump favoured allowing ongoing peace negotiations with Tehran to continue.

Netanyahu has maintained that the US should resume strikes and seek regime change in Iran, while Trump has favoured economic pressure aimed at securing concessions from Tehran. The Israeli prime minister’s office rejected claims that the conversation became confrontational, describing the reports as “fake news.”

Israeli news outlets Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Netanyahu repeatedly urged Trump to restart the war during the call. Trump, however, continued to back a diplomatic approach as talks with Iran progressed.

Sources quoted by both outlets described the conversation as having descended into a “shouting match from hell”. A senior Israeli official confirmed that the two leaders spoke over the weekend but denied that any confrontation had taken place.

Trump and Netanyahu have previously had heated telephone exchanges over the conflict. Following several disagreements in June, Trump told The Post that he had called Netanyahu “f**king crazy” during one conversation.

The latest reports emerged days after the Financial Times said Netanyahu had been telephoning Trump daily to persuade him to resume an all-out war. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, is facing uncertainty over his position after losing seats in the general election held in October.

Netanyahu has continued to argue that Washington must restart attacks on Iran and pursue regime change. Addressing the 26th Knesset assembly on Tuesday, he said replacing Iran’s leadership was the only way to end what he described as Tehran’s reign of terror and halt its nuclear programme.

“Iran is…

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