Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu denied claims that he tried to convince US President Donald Trump to resume military attacks on Iran during their recent meeting at the White House. Speaking to ABC News, Netanyahu said the two leaders discussed three different options in the context of tensions with Iran and that the final decision rests with Trump.
Netanyahu listed the three possibilities put on the table during the meeting: negotiating a more comprehensive agreement with Iranian officials, maintaining the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, or taking additional military steps. The Israeli prime minister said, "We analyzed all three possibilities and the decision rests with Trump." He characterized his relationship with the US president as a "partnership."
Netanyahu said, "Trump and I are partners; he is the senior partner and I am the junior partner." He nevertheless stressed that he would not hesitate to take steps he deems necessary for Israel's security. "I am the prime minister of Israel, and when I need to defend my country's interests and security, I do so," he added.
Expressing skepticism about Iran, Netanyahu accused Iranians of "always lying, deceiving, and stalling." "Let's see if diplomatic and economic pressure can change Iran's attitude," he added.
Netanyahu said that Iran is "now weaker than ever" but that he does not think the regime has collapsed. The Israeli prime minister noted that Iran's capacity to turn the flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz into a pressure tool "cannot be definitely predicted." He warned that it would be a "big mistake" for Iran to target Israel and that Israel would respond "very strongly."
Netanyahu stated that his goal is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons under the current regime and that he and Trump agree on this matter. He expressed concern about a "shift" in US support for Israel due to the spread of social media.
Netanyahu accused unnamed countries of using "bot farms and other tools" for manipulation and suggested a direct link between the spread of social media and the decline in support for Israel. The Israeli prime minister added that he wants bipartisan support (Republican and Democrat), which he views as a "fundamental pillar" for national security.
The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu took place last Tuesday at the White House. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the meeting as "positive and productive" in her post on X. The closed-door meeting was also attended by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Photos released by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office showed the participants.
During Netanyahu's visit, a group of protesters gathered in front of the White House to protest the Israeli prime minister's Washington visit.
