A proposed agreement between the United States and Iran has exposed growing differences between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, raising concerns within Israel’s political and security establishment about the future direction of US policy toward Tehran, The Wall Street Journal reported.
According to the report, Washington and Tel Aviv initially coordinated closely during military operations against Iran, but their priorities diverged after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global energy supplies. While Trump pushed for a diplomatic settlement to reduce economic pressure and stabilize oil markets, Netanyahu favored maintaining maximum pressure on Iran and its regional allies.
The newspaper said Netanyahu is seeking urgent consultations with Trump following the agreement, amid concerns that the deal could ease pressure on Tehran without fully addressing Israel’s security demands, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear activities and regional influence.
The emerging US-Iran understanding reportedly focuses on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, extending a ceasefire and launching further negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief. US officials have indicated that any broader sanctions easing would depend on Tehran’s compliance with future commitments, while Iranian media report that access to some frozen assets could be restored.
The agreement has also highlighted disagreements over Lebanon. A recent Israeli strike in Beirut reportedly threatened to derail negotiations before the deal was finalized. Trump publicly criticized the attack and called for an end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon, while Israeli officials insisted they would maintain security operations against threats from Hezbollah.
Israeli leaders have reacted cautiously to the agreement. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would retain freedom of action against potential threats and would act independently if necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Several former Israeli officials have warned that a deal providing economic relief to Tehran without stronger nuclear concessions could strengthen Iran and its regional allies.
The developments come as the war in Gaza continues and tensions remain high along the Israel-Lebanon border. Regional observers say any reduction in US-Iran tensions could create diplomatic opportunities to address wider conflicts, although major disagreements over Gaza, Hezbollah and Iran’s regional role remain unresolved.
Analysts cited by the Wall Street Journal said the agreement also underscores the limits of Israeli influence over US decision-making. While Trump has argued that the deal ultimately serves Israel’s security interests by preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, many Israeli officials remain skeptical and fear prolonged negotiations could allow Tehran to preserve elements of its nuclear capabilities.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the agreement. The waterway carries roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments, and its reopening is viewed by Washington and international markets as a key step toward reducing energy risks and restoring stability to global trade following months of regional tensions.
