Netanyahu admits Israel has little sway over Trump on Iran talks: Report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has privately acknowledged that Israel has limited leverage over US President Donald Trump as Washington pushes ahead with negotiations with Iran aimed at ending the nearly three-month-old conflict in the region.

The comments come amid growing indications that Israel has largely been sidelined in ongoing indirect talks between the US and Iran that are focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and reviving broader discussions over Tehran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and regional security arrangements.

According to the news agency Reuters, Netanyahu conveyed in private conversations that Israel "has no manoeuvre to influence the president right now", despite the agreement not immediately addressing Israel's concerns over Iran's nuclear programme and stockpile.

According to an Israeli official, Netanyahu had also expressed reservations about a Memorandum of Understanding currently under negotiation between Washington and Tehran. The proposed framework reportedly includes Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US lifting its naval blockade, followed by further talks on Tehran’s nuclear activities.

Reports suggest that the US and Iran are nearing a closure of the deal that could establish lasting peace in West Asia, ending a conflict that has rattled the world since February 28. The development comes even as both countries continue to differ sharply over key issues, including Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, sanctions relief and Israel’s continued military operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Trump asked countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey to join the Abraham Accords, which is aimed at normalising relations with Israel. The US President said he spoke on Saturday to leaders of those countries, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which have already signed the accords.

Netanyahu has reportedly insisted that Israel must retain the freedom to continue military action against perceived threats across the region, including in Lebanon. Such a demand could complicate any agreement as Iran seeks guarantees for a complete cessation of Israeli operations.

Despite an April 16 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, hostilities have continued along the Lebanon border. Israeli forces remain deployed in parts of southern Lebanon, while air strikes and drone attacks have persisted on both sides.

Trump and Netanyahu have spoken at least three times over the past week, according to Israeli officials. The conversations took place as Israel prepared contingency plans for possible renewed joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran targeting energy infrastructure.

After one of the calls earlier this week, Trump told reporters, "He’s a very good man, he'll do whatever I want him to do," referring to Netanyahu.

Following another phone conversation on Saturday, Netanyahu issued a statement saying he and Trump had discussed the proposed memorandum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and future negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Netanyahu said both sides agreed that any final agreement must include dismantling Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities and removing enriched nuclear material from Iranian territory. He also said Trump reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself "against threats on every front, including Lebanon".

Meanwhile, Israel's opposition leader Yair Lapid, who is part of an alliance seeking to unseat Netanyahu in this year’s elections, criticised the proposed deal, calling it a "bad" development for the country as it fails to achieve any of Israel’s stated war goals. Lapid also accused Netanyahu of failing to influence negotiations in favour of a better agreement for Israel.