Netanyahu Denies Pressuring Trump to Resume Strikes on Iran in ABC Interview

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied claims in an ABC interview that he tried to persuade then-US President Donald Trump to renew military strikes against Iran. Netanyahu said during their Washington meeting, he presented Trump with three options regarding Tehran: negotiating a broader agreement, continuing the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, or taking further military action. He emphasized that the decision was Trump's alone, describing the US as the senior partner in their alliance.

Netanyahu expressed skepticism about Iran's negotiation tactics, accusing the regime of consistently lying and cheating to buy time. He acknowledged Iran's current weakness but stopped short of declaring the regime's collapse, stressing his main goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a point he said he and Trump agreed on. Netanyahu also issued a stern warning to Tehran against attacking Israel, promising a strong response.

Regarding the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Netanyahu said Iran could attempt to disrupt trade there but would have to weigh the consequences. He suggested alternative energy routes to bypass any blockade and vowed Israel would act to reopen the passage if necessary. The interview came shortly after Trump publicly downplayed Netanyahu's input on Iran's nuclear activities, asserting US intelligence capabilities were sufficient.

Earlier reports revealed that former Mossad chief Dedi Barnea had presented Netanyahu with an assessment that regime change in Iran could take months, tempering expectations of a swift collapse. Both Israeli and US officials expressed doubts about the likelihood of a rapid popular uprising during military strikes, despite optimistic scenarios used to justify pressure on Iran before the conflict escalated in February.