A new report from Axios says that President Donald Trump held a difficult call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about ending the war against Iran.
Barak Revid wrote on Wednesday that he spoke with multiple officials who said Trump informed Netanyahu that he is considering signing a letter of intent with Iran to end the war. The letter would bring the conflict to a close and provide 30 days for Washington and Tehran to make a deal about the future of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program.
A source who described the discussion to Axios said, “Bibi’s hair was on fire after the call.” The source added that the Israeli Ambassador to the US had informed American lawmakers about the Prime Minister’s discussion with Trump.
The sources said that Netanyahu’s fury should not be interpreted as an agreement nearing completion, as the Israeli leader panicked during previous negotiations that failed to result in a deal.
If Trump signed the letter outlined by Axios, it would be a significant walk back. The President has argued that Tehran’s nuclear program was the core reason for attacking Iran. Additionally, Iran seized control of the Strait of Hormuz after the start of the conflict. Washington has demanded that Tehran return the Strait to an open waterway, while Iranian officials say they will not give up control.
Trump has faced criticism for allowing Netanyahu to convince him to start a war against Iran. On Wednesday, he insisted that he could control the Israeli leader. Netanyahu “will do whatever I want him to do” on Iran, the President told reporters.
