Report: Netanyahu Admits His Inability to Influence Trump's Decisions on Iran

SadaNews - The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, told close associates in private conversations that Israel lacks significant ability to influence President Donald Trump's decisions regarding Iran as Trump negotiates a deal to end the war on Iran.

Netanyahu's remarks, relayed to Reuters by two Israeli officials familiar with the discussions, come at a time when Israel is largely excluded from talks aimed at reaching a preliminary agreement to stop the American-Israeli war on Iran.

Both the United States and Iran have downplayed hopes of achieving a soon-to-be-completed agreement, with ongoing disputes between them over Iran's nuclear ambitions and Tehran's demands for lifting sanctions, alongside Israel's war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Netanyahu insists on maintaining the option of continuing operations against what Israel considers threats on all fronts, including Lebanon, a condition that might hinder reaching an agreement if Iran insists on a complete halt to Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.

One of the Israeli officials involved in the private discussions with Netanyahu stated that the latter expressed concerns about the memorandum of understanding currently being negotiated.

After the first of three conversations held on Tuesday night, reporters asked Trump what he had said to Netanyahu. Trump responded, "He is a tremendous guy, and he will do anything I want him to do."

The two sides spoke again on Friday night before reconnecting on Saturday night after Trump made a joint call with leaders from Gulf states, Turkey, and Pakistan to update them on the latest developments in negotiations with Iran.

Following that call, Netanyahu, who had not previously commented publicly on any potential agreement with Iran, stated in a release that they discussed "the memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the upcoming negotiations for a final agreement regarding the Iranian nuclear program."

Netanyahu said that he and Trump "agreed that any final agreement... would mean dismantling Iranian nuclear enrichment sites and removing enriched nuclear materials from its territory." He also stated that Trump "again emphasized Israel's right to defend itself against threats on all fronts, including Lebanon."

The discussions about the agreement come at a sensitive time for Netanyahu ahead of general elections that he is expected to lose. He faces criticism from opponents for failing to achieve his stated goals for the war, which include toppling the Iranian regime, eliminating its nuclear and missile capabilities, and undermining its influence in the region.