AhlulBayt News Agency: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly concerned about a potential agreement between the Trump administration and Iran, according to a recent report by NBC News.
The American news network, citing sources familiar with the matter, stated on Sunday that tensions between US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu have grown over Washington’s Iran policy and Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s concerns surfaced as Iran and the US concluded their latest round of indirect negotiations in Muscat. Tehran described the talks as "difficult but useful," with both sides agreeing to continue discussions in the future.
Despite this diplomatic progress, Israeli officials remain wary of any agreement between Washington and Tehran. According to NBC News, two US officials and West Asian diplomats confirmed that Israel is deeply concerned about such negotiations.
In just the past week, Trump made comments that reportedly frustrated Netanyahu. One of the most significant statements came on May 7, when Trump said he had not yet decided whether Iran would be allowed to maintain a uranium enrichment program under a new deal.
“We haven’t made that decision yet,” Trump said when asked about Washington’s stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, particularly regarding civilian nuclear purposes.
Netanyahu’s top adviser, Ron Dermer, conveyed Israel’s concerns directly to Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, during a White House meeting on May 8.
Furthermore, Netanyahu has warned that if given Trump’s backing, Israel will take direct military action against Iran’s nuclear sites.
During his second White House visit since Trump took office, Netanyahu had hoped to secure a commitment for US air support in the event of an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. However, according to two West Asian diplomats, Netanyahu was surprised when Trump instead signaled a willingness to engage in direct negotiations with Tehran.
Officials revealed that Netanyahu privately dismissed Trump’s diplomatic outreach to Iran as a “waste of time.”
In addition to disagreements over Iran, frustrations have emerged between the US and Israel regarding Netanyahu’s continued expansion of military operations in Gaza.
Washington has been pressuring Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire agreement, with Dermer expected to discuss this issue with Witkoff during his White House visit this week, as confirmed by West Asian diplomats and a senior Trump administration official.
Nonetheless, the most contentious issue between Netanyahu and Trump remains the US approach toward Iran, which has created a significant rift between the two leaders.
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