Trump and Netanyahu in a Heated Phone Call: Here Is What Was Said

Trump and Netanyahu in a Heated Phone Call: Here Is What Was Said

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The sharp differences between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the direction of the Iran war have begun to become public. In a tense telephone conversation on Tuesday, 19 May 2026 local time, the two leaders were said to have disagreed over Washington’s decision to delay a new strike against Tehran to open space for diplomacy.

An American official told CNN that the exchange reflected serious differences of opinion about the next steps in the Iran conflict that has rocked the Middle East for months.

This is not the first time Trump and Netanyahu have spoken in recent days. In a conversation the previous Sunday, Trump reportedly told Netanyahu that Washington would likely proceed with a new strike against Iran early this week.

The operation, according to an earlier CNN report, had even been prepared under a new name, ‘Operation Sledgehammer’.

But about 24 hours after that conversation, Trump surprised many by announcing a halt to the attack that had been scheduled for Tuesday. Trump said the decision was taken at the request of several Gulf allies such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

In recent days, Gulf states together with mediator Pakistan are reported to have been actively engaging in intensive communications with the White House to build a new diplomatic framework.

‘We are at the final stage on Iran. We’ll see what happens,’ Trump told reporters on Wednesday morning regarding the prospects of reaching a new deal with Tehran.

‘We will either get a deal or we will do something a bit worse. But hopefully that does not happen,’ he added.

Trump’s decision to reopen the diplomatic channel reportedly frustrated Netanyahu. The Israeli leader has long been known as a proponent of a far more aggressive military approach to Iran.

According to American officials and Israeli sources, Netanyahu believes delaying the strike will only benefit Tehran and give Iran more time to strengthen its position.

An American official said Netanyahu directly conveyed his disappointment to Trump in the Tuesday call. He assessed that the delay in the attack was a misstep and urged Washington to press ahead with the military operation as originally planned.

In the roughly one-hour conversation, Netanyahu continued to push for the military action to be resumed.

‘The difference is very clear: Trump wants to see if a deal can be reached, while Netanyahu expects something different,’ one Israeli official said.

CNN reported concerns among Israeli circles also spreading to Netanyahu’s close advisers. Another Israeli source said there is a strong desire at the highest levels of government to resume military action against Iran.

They are described as becoming more frustrated because Trump is seen as continuing to allow Iran to slow the diplomacy process.

Nevertheless, tensions between Trump and Netanyahu are not new. Several sources familiar with their talks have said American officials have long understood that Washington and Tel Aviv have different goals in the Iran war.

When asked by reporters about the content of his talk with Netanyahu, Trump signalled that the final decision still lay in his hands.

‘He will do whatever I want him to do,’ Trump said.

Although under pressure from Israel to strike Iran again, Trump has so far chosen to keep diplomatic options open. He said the situation with Iran is now ‘on the brink’ and diplomacy deserves a few more days if it can save lives.

On the other hand, Iran also confirmed that communication with the US remains ongoing through mediator Pakistan.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran and Washington continue exchanging messages.

‘Based on the initial Iranian text containing 14 points, the messages have been exchanged several times, and we have received the American position and are currently reviewing it,’ Baqaei was quoted as saying by Nour News, the government media outlet.

But it remains unclear whether the main differences between the two sides are beginning to narrow. Regional sources say Iran still maintains its core demands, including about its nuclear programme and the country’s frozen assets abroad.

Trump himself continued to warn that military options remain on the table if diplomacy fails to bear fruit.

‘If we do not get a proper answer, everything will move very quickly. We are all prepared to move,’ Trump said.