Strategic differences between the US and Israel regarding Iran have now started coming out in the open. According to US media reports, the recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quite tense.
The biggest dispute between the two leaders was over whether to launch another military strike on Iran or to continue trying for an agreement through dialogue. According to reports, Netanyahu wants to resume attacks to completely weaken Iran’s military capability and its crucial infrastructure. Citing sources from a US website, it has been claimed that Netanyahu
appeared extremely angry and restless after the phone call. Reports even suggested that his hair was on fire, meaning he was in a state of extreme anger and stress. In fact, Trump had recently said that he has postponed the proposed attack on Iran for the time being. It was reported that Qatar, the UAE, and other Arab nations had appealed to the US to reduce tensions, following which the military action was halted. Along with this, a new peace proposal has also been prepared through the mediation of Pakistan and Qatar, aimed at preparing the ground for an agreement between the US and Iran.
According to sources, Trump told Netanyahu during the conversation that the mediating countries are preparing a Letter of Intent, which the US and Iran could sign. Under this proposal, talks will go on for 30 days, discussing issues like Iran’s nuclear program and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, Israel is highly skeptical about this entire process. According to a report, a large section within the Israeli government believes that Iran is deliberately dragging out the talks and is busy strengthening its position during this period. This is the reason why Israel seems in favor of military action once again. Trump, however, also said that if the talks fail, the US could adopt the path of war again.
He said, everything is now standing on the borderline; if the right answer is not received, the situation could change very quickly. On the other hand, Iran has also made it clear that it will move forward with the talks only on the basis of its 14-point proposal. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that talks are ongoing, but reaching an agreement does not look easy yet. In such a scenario, it is clear that the US and Israel do not appear to be on the same page regarding Iran for now. While Trump wants to give diplomacy a chance, Netanyahu believes that military action is the most effective way to maintain pressure on Iran.
