Netanyahu Admits Little Sway Over Trump on Iran Deal as Israel Is Sidelined From 3-Month Talks
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 25
Netanyahu Admits Little Sway Over Trump on Iran Deal as Israel Is Sidelined From 3-Month Talks
9 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 25
Israeli officials said Benjamin Netanyahu has privately acknowledged Israel has "no manoeuvre" to influence Donald Trump on an emerging U.S.-Iran framework, even after at least three calls in the past week.
The proposed memorandum would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting a U.S. naval blockade, with later talks meant to address Iran's nuclear programme and enriched uranium stockpile.
Netanyahu fears the initial deal could leave Israel's core security demands unresolved and is insisting on freedom to keep striking perceived threats, including in southern Lebanon.
Trump has signaled confidence in his leverage over Netanyahu, saying after one call that the Israeli leader would "do whatever I want him to do," underscoring Israel's limited role in the indirect talks.
The diplomatic shift comes before an election Netanyahu is projected to lose and highlights how U.S. war aims have narrowed since the Feb. 28 joint assault on Iran.
As U.S. priorities shift from regime change to oil, can Israel still pursue its military objectives against Iran's proxies?
After a war that killed its Supreme Leader, will an economic truce truly stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb?
From Ally to Outsider: The Strategic Fallout of Israel’s Exclusion from 2026 US-Iran Peace Talks
Overview
As of May 2026, Israel has been increasingly excluded from US-Iran negotiations, marking a sharp shift from the close cooperation seen at the start of the conflict. Prime Minister Netanyahu began the war with the goal of stopping Iran’s nuclear ambitions and even considered regime change, but the US soon prioritized de-escalation after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and oil prices soared. This economic pressure led the US to focus on a ceasefire and stability, while Israel’s maximalist aims were sidelined. As a result, Israel’s influence over the final agreement has diminished, leaving its core security concerns unresolved.