President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a contentious phone call this week about U.S. efforts to reach a peace agreement with Iran, according to officials familiar with the conversation. The call reflected deepening friction between the allies over the direction of diplomacy as talks continue under a fragile ceasefire.
An official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter said the Tuesday conversation was dramatic. Israel has expressed anger over Trump’s decision to hold off on military strikes to allow negotiations to proceed. Netanyahu has publicly opposed terms that would leave Iran with any enriched uranium or missile capabilities.
Trump said this week that he was holding off on strikes because serious negotiations were underway, though he has repeatedly warned the ceasefire could end. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported slight progress in talks but said key gaps remain over uranium stockpiles and the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began with strikes on February 28. Trump declared a ceasefire in mid-April with core goals unfulfilled, including preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and degrading its missile program. Netanyahu has insisted Iran must not be allowed to retain enrichment capacity under any deal.
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Sources:
https://www.fdd.org/overnight-brief/may-21-2026/