Trump Increasingly Frustrated with Netanyahu's Antics
United States (US) President Donald Trump is increasingly frustrated with the antics of Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu. This comes as Israel and Iran continue to attack each other amid calls for mutual restraint.
Tension in the Middle East region escalated on Sunday (7/6), triggered by Israel’s deadly bombing of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Iran, which has long asserted that a peace agreement with the US partly depends on a halt to the fighting in Lebanon, responded with a wave of missile strikes into northern Israeli territory.
Trump reportedly telephoned Netanyahu on Sunday (7/6) evening and asked him not to retaliate against the missile strikes. However, Israel still launched an attack against Iran on Monday (8/6) morning local time.
Israeli forces attacked Iran’s air defence system and a petrochemical plant. Meanwhile, Iran retaliated again by bombarding similar facilities in Haifa and targeting two Israeli air bases. Many missiles were intercepted in the skies over the West Bank region. There have been no reports of casualties on either side.
In an interview with Axios, Trump said he had warned Netanyahu about the consequences of continuing the war with Iran. However, Netanyahu said in a statement broadcast on Israeli television that he had stressed to Trump that “Israel has the full right to self-defence, and we are using it appropriately”.
“Now, the exchange of fire on the front line is under control, because after we attacked the terrorist regime in Tehran, they stopped attacking us,” said Netanyahu, as reported by Al Jazeera. Netanyahu also warned that if Iran “makes the mistake of continuing attacks against us, we will retaliate with full force.”
The prominent US media outlet Axios, as reported by Reuters, also reported the same warning from Trump to Netanyahu. According to Axios, citing a US official source, Trump warned Netanyahu that he would be fighting alone if Israel went to war against Iran again.
“I said, ‘Bibi, you had better be careful, or you will be alone soon’,” Trump said, using Netanyahu’s nickname, as quoted by local Israeli media and reported by Al Arabiya, Tuesday (9/6/2026).
Trump’s warning to Netanyahu was delivered as Israel and Iran stopped attacking each other after the most serious escalation since the ceasefire in early April. Meanwhile, indirect negotiations to reach a peace agreement are ongoing.
Trump, who is reportedly increasingly irritated with Netanyahu, previously demanded that Israel and Iran stop “shooting” in a Truth Social media post. He also said that the “final negotiations” towards peace would continue “with a note of ignorance and stupidity hindering it”.
Israel and Iran declared a temporary halt to strikes, after the two countries attacked each other for the first time since the ceasefire was established two months ago. Nevertheless, both sides asserted they are ready to retaliate if attacked again.
In its statement, the Iranian military warned that any further “aggression and hostile actions” from Israel or its allies, including in southern Lebanon, would be met with “harsher and devastating” action.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also indicated that this round of strikes had concluded. However, he emphasized that Israel would respond firmly if Iran launched attacks again.
“If Iran makes a mistake and attacks us again, we will respond with force,” Netanyahu said in a recorded statement. Netanyahu asserted that the Israeli military operation against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon would continue.
As a sign of easing tension, Israel and Iran have begun lifting several previously imposed security restrictions. The Israeli military announced that most schools closed due to the security situation would reopen. Meanwhile, Iran’s official news agency, Mizan, reported that airspace restrictions for civilian flights had been lifted.
However, several sources of tension persist. Iran continues to maintain a tight blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway that is a vital artery for global oil and gas trade. The threat of disruption to this passage has been one of the main factors behind the surge in global energy prices in recent months. On the other hand, Israel continues to pound Hezbollah positions in Lebanon and expand its military operations in the country.