Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Donald Trump that Israel would retain full freedom to act against threats in Lebanon and beyond, during a phone call on Saturday centred on an emerging Washington-Tehran agreement, an Israeli political source told Reuters.
Trump said the US and Iran had “largely negotiated” a memorandum of understanding that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane effectively closed since the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran in February.
Pakistan is brokering the emerging accord, raising expectations of a potential breakthrough in the three-month conflict.
“In last night’s conversation with President Trump, the Prime Minister emphasised that Israel will maintain freedom of action against threats in all arenas, including Lebanon, and President Trump reiterated and supported this principle,” the unnamed Israeli source told Reuters on Sunday.
Nuclear Dismantlement Remains Washington’s Red Line
Furthermore, the source stressed that Trump would not sign any final deal without Iran fully dismantling its nuclear programme and removing all enriched uranium from its territory. “President Trump made it clear that he will stand firm in negotiations on his consistent demand for the dismantling of the Iranian nuclear program,” the source said, “and that he will not sign a final agreement without these conditions being met.”
Iran’s Fars news agency reported that the draft agreement stipulates the US and its allies will not attack Iran or its allies, while Tehran pledges no preemptive strikes in return.
Meanwhile, prominent Israeli politician Benny Gantz warned that accepting a Lebanon ceasefire as part of any Iran deal would constitute a strategic mistake for Israel. Israeli forces currently operate in Lebanon targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. Trump, however, struck an upbeat tone, writing on Truth Social that his call with Netanyahu had gone “very well.”
