President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a difficult call on Tuesday regarding a new effort to reach a deal with Iran, three sources told Axios. One source described Netanyahu as having his "hair on fire" after the conversation, reflecting deep tensions between the two allies over the path forward.
The revised peace memo, drafted by Qatar and Pakistan with input from other regional mediators, aims to bridge gaps between the U.S. and Iran. The call comes as Trump vacillates between ordering a massive strike on Iran and pursuing a diplomatic resolution, according to the sources.
Netanyahu is highly skeptical of the negotiations and favors resuming the war to further degrade Iran's military capabilities by destroying its critical infrastructure. Trump has publicly stated he believes a deal is possible but is also prepared to resume conflict if talks fail.
"The only question is do we go and finish it up or are they gonna be signing a document. Let's see what happens," Trump said Wednesday at the Coast Guard Academy. He also asserted that Netanyahu "will do whatever I want him to do" on Iran, though he noted they maintain a good relationship.
Trump and Netanyahu have experienced temporary disagreements on Iran before but have remained closely coordinated on the issue. The outcome of this latest diplomatic push remains uncertain as both leaders weigh their options.