US President Donald Trump allegedly launched a blistering critique of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a tense phone call on Monday, according to Axios, citing American officials and an informed source. Trump purportedly told Netanyahu: 'You're crazy. You'd be in jail if it weren't for me,' blaming the Israeli leader for fostering global skepticism toward Israel due to his actions in Lebanon.
The White House's anger was reportedly triggered by Israel's escalation of the conflict in Lebanon, which threatened to derail broad US negotiations with Iran. On the same day, Iran allegedly threatened to completely withdraw from the dialogue. Trump is said to have acknowledged Israel's right to self-defense against Hezbollah attacks but deemed Netanyahu's recent steps disproportionate, expressing outrage over civilian casualties and the demolition of residential towers to eliminate individual commanders.
Under US pressure, Israel allegedly adjusted its plans. An Israeli official told Axios that the country no longer intends to strike targets in Beirut. However, Netanyahu's official statement insisted that Tel Aviv's position remains unchanged and that strikes would resume if Hezbollah does not cease fire. Nevertheless, the Axios source claimed that Trump effectively 'ran over' Netanyahu during the conversation, forcing him to back down.
Following the call, Trump purportedly wrote on Truth Social that negotiations with Iran are proceeding at a rapid pace. The US-Iran talks in Qatar, aimed at a diplomatic memorandum on cessation of hostilities, had already faced a deep crisis days earlier. Qatar, under direct US pressure, allegedly rejected the Iranian delegation's ultimatum to unblock $12 billion in cash held in Qatari banks as a precondition for continued talks.
Instead, Iran was reportedly granted only a targeted credit line of $6 billion for purchasing humanitarian goods on Qatar's domestic market. Washington allegedly firmly opposed giving Tehran access to 'live' cash, fearing it would allow Iran to redirect freed internal reserves toward arms purchases.
Source: podrobno.uz