The recent flare-up in West Asia has laid bare a growing rift between Washington and Jerusalem- one that exposes the limits of a relationship long presented as unshakeable.
At its centre is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s open defiance of U.S. President Donald Trump over how to handle Iran.
While Trump and Netanyahu have been in consonance on major regional military and diplomatic moves, Trump has taken decisions favouring Israel, including moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, U.S. recognition of Israeli claims over Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, and securing the return of hostages from the Gaza Strip as part of a ceasefire with Hamas.
Despite the international community condemning Israel for settlements in the West Bank and its actions in Gaza, Trump has reportedly grown increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu’s continued military actions, including Israeli strikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, which the U.S. president allegedly viewed as undermining ceasefire diplomacy.
Trump made clear he considers himself the one setting the orders and said Netanyahu “doesn’t call the shots”. He pressed for restraint and a negotiated end to hostilities with Iran. Israeli forces, however, struck again shortly after those comments, with reported attacks on Iranian air defense systems and industrial facilities tied to weapons production.
Netanyahu pushed back unapologetically, framing Israel’s actions as straightforward self-defence.
On Monday, Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social that “Both sides, Israel and Iran, are looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE!”
“Final negotiations on ‘Peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way,” the president added.
Behind the scenes, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump privately backed down from his demands for Israel to hold back from retaliating during a phone call with Netanyahu on Sunday. The president advised Netanyahu to carry out a “limited” strike and to avoid escalation, the Journal reported.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed the Journal’s description of the call. The White House referred questions about the call to Trump’s comments to Fox News’ Trey Yingst on Sunday afternoon.
Trump told Yingst he was “not happy” about Israel striking Hezbollah in Beirut but said ongoing Iranian missile fire against Israel would not help negotiations.
“What I would suggest to Iran: you’ve shot your missiles, that’s enough, get back to the table and make a deal,” Yingst quoted the president as saying. Trump also said the U.S. did not coordinate with Israel on the most recent military strikes.
Moreover, US has struck Iran nuclear sites in 2025 and Iran is in no way to trust the US and Israel, So for trusting, US has to offer something and this was clearly told by Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who in an interview to US media said last week that Tehran wants the U.S. to unfreeze USD $24 billion as a “test of trust”.
“This is a test that America must pass, and the path will be opened,” he said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers last week that sanctions relief for Iran reopening the Strait has “not been discussed, that’s not been offered.” He said any sanctions relief for Iran is contingent on Tehran taking steps to dismantle its nuclear programme.
It is not clear if the administration considers unfreezing assets a form of sanctions relief. U.S. officials have reportedly been considering various ways to provide Iran economic relief as part of an initial deal without direct U.S. action.
