Trump-Netanyahu Clash Over Reigniting the Iran War
Behind the scenes, Trump and Netanyahu reportedly had a furious phone fight over whether to restart the war with Iran — bad news for anyone hoping the conflict is truly over.
- Netanyahu has allegedly been calling Trump daily pushing him to resume strikes on Iran, and one recent call turned into a shouting match, according to Israeli media; Netanyahu's office denies it was heated.
- Trump publicly says military action "doesn't seem necessary" and claims the US already "won," but he also talked about wanting a "total victory," not a 93% one — leaving the door open to more strikes.
- Iran is rejecting the first US settlement offer, calling it insufficient, and says it won't send enriched uranium out of the country, though it may agree to dilute it.
- Warning signs of wider trouble: the UAE is reportedly stockpiling food and supplies for a possible regional war, the US is still moving military assets into the region, and separate Saudi-Houthi fighting has damaged a major oil pipeline, which keeps gas prices elevated.
- Netanyahu is openly pushing for regime change in Iran, framing it as stopping a "nuclear threat," while the US has said this war is only about nukes — a gap that suggests the two allies want different things.
Outlook: Despite talk of winding down, multiple signals — Netanyahu's pressure campaign, stalled nuclear talks, and regional military buildup — suggest the Iran conflict could flare back up rather than truly end.