WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a sharp rebuke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a tense phone call on Monday, as concerns mounted over Israel’s military escalation in Lebanon and its impact on ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations.
According to sources cited by Axios, Trump expressed anger over Israel’s recent actions in Lebanon, reportedly calling Netanyahu “crazy” and accusing him of showing a lack of appreciation for U.S. support. The report said the U.S. president was particularly concerned that further escalation could undermine diplomatic efforts with Iran and increase Israel’s international isolation.
The phone call came shortly after Iran warned that it could abandon negotiations with Washington if Israeli military operations in Lebanon continued. U.S. officials reportedly viewed the situation as a direct threat to ongoing diplomatic talks aimed at reducing regional tensions.
According to the report, Trump also intervened to stop a planned Israeli strike on Beirut. An Israeli official told Axios that the proposed operation would not proceed following discussions between the two leaders.
Meanwhile, Trump later stated that his administration was continuing negotiations with Iran and described the talks as progressing rapidly. He also announced that no Israeli troops would enter Beirut and that efforts were underway to prevent further escalation between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
However, Netanyahu maintained a firm public stance after the call. He said Israel would continue responding to attacks from Hezbollah and reserved the right to strike targets in Beirut if hostilities persisted.
The reported exchange highlights growing tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv over Lebanon policy, even as both governments continue to coordinate on broader regional security issues and the future of negotiations with Iran.
