Trump and Netanyahu in a Heated Phone Call: Here Is What Was Said<\/p>\n
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The sharp differences between US President\nDonald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the\ndirection of the Iran war have begun to become public. In a tense\ntelephone conversation on Tuesday, 19 May 2026 local time, the two\nleaders were said to have disagreed over Washington\u2019s decision to delay\na new strike against Tehran to open space for diplomacy.<\/p>\n
An American official told CNN that the exchange reflected serious\ndifferences of opinion about the next steps in the Iran conflict that\nhas rocked the Middle East for months.<\/p>\n
This is not the first time Trump and Netanyahu have spoken in recent\ndays. In a conversation the previous Sunday, Trump reportedly told\nNetanyahu that Washington would likely proceed with a new strike against\nIran early this week.<\/p>\n
The operation, according to an earlier CNN report, had even been\nprepared under a new name, \u2018Operation Sledgehammer\u2019.<\/p>\n
But about 24 hours after that conversation, Trump surprised many by\nannouncing a halt to the attack that had been scheduled for Tuesday.\nTrump said the decision was taken at the request of several Gulf allies\nsuch as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n
In recent days, Gulf states together with mediator Pakistan are\nreported to have been actively engaging in intensive communications with\nthe White House to build a new diplomatic framework.<\/p>\n
\u2018We are at the final stage on Iran. We\u2019ll see what happens,\u2019 Trump\ntold reporters on Wednesday morning regarding the prospects of reaching\na new deal with Tehran.<\/p>\n
\u2018We will either get a deal or we will do something a bit worse. But\nhopefully that does not happen,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s decision to reopen the diplomatic channel reportedly\nfrustrated Netanyahu. The Israeli leader has long been known as a\nproponent of a far more aggressive military approach to Iran.<\/p>\n
According to American officials and Israeli sources, Netanyahu\nbelieves delaying the strike will only benefit Tehran and give Iran more\ntime to strengthen its position.<\/p>\n
An American official said Netanyahu directly conveyed his\ndisappointment to Trump in the Tuesday call. He assessed that the delay\nin the attack was a misstep and urged Washington to press ahead with the\nmilitary operation as originally planned.<\/p>\n
In the roughly one-hour conversation, Netanyahu continued to push for\nthe military action to be resumed.<\/p>\n
\u2018The difference is very clear: Trump wants to see if a deal can be\nreached, while Netanyahu expects something different,\u2019 one Israeli\nofficial said.<\/p>\n
CNN reported concerns among Israeli circles also spreading to\nNetanyahu\u2019s close advisers. Another Israeli source said there is a\nstrong desire at the highest levels of government to resume military\naction against Iran.<\/p>\n
They are described as becoming more frustrated because Trump is seen\nas continuing to allow Iran to slow the diplomacy process.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, tensions between Trump and Netanyahu are not new.\nSeveral sources familiar with their talks have said American officials\nhave long understood that Washington and Tel Aviv have different goals\nin the Iran war.<\/p>\n
When asked by reporters about the content of his talk with Netanyahu,\nTrump signalled that the final decision still lay in his hands.<\/p>\n
\u2018He will do whatever I want him to do,\u2019 Trump said.<\/p>\n
Although under pressure from Israel to strike Iran again, Trump has\nso far chosen to keep diplomatic options open. He said the situation\nwith Iran is now \u2018on the brink\u2019 and diplomacy deserves a few more days\nif it can save lives.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Iran also confirmed that communication with the US\nremains ongoing through mediator Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran and\nWashington continue exchanging messages.<\/p>\n
\u2018Based on the initial Iranian text containing 14 points, the messages\nhave been exchanged several times, and we have received the American\nposition and are currently reviewing it,\u2019 Baqaei was quoted as saying by\nNour News, the government media outlet.<\/p>\n
But it remains unclear whether the main differences between the two\nsides are beginning to narrow. Regional sources say Iran still maintains\nits core demands, including about its nuclear programme and the\ncountry\u2019s frozen assets abroad.<\/p>\n
Trump himself continued to warn that military options remain on the\ntable if diplomacy fails to bear fruit.<\/p>\n
\u2018If we do not get a proper answer, everything will move very quickly.\nWe are all prepared to move,\u2019 Trump said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trump-and-netanyahu-in-a-heated-phone-call-here-is-what-was-said-1779542721", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }