Trump says he 'calls the shots' as Netanyahu holds second call amid Iran attack
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a second phone conversation in less than 24 hours on Monday, June 8, as the United States intensified efforts to prevent a wider regional conflict involving Iran.
The latest call came before Iran announced a suspension of its military operations against Israel, according to CNN. Neither side disclosed details of the discussion, and Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the recent escalation between Israel and Iran.
According to a US official, Trump used an earlier call on Sunday to urge Netanyahu to refrain from launching a retaliatory strike against Iran, arguing that diplomacy still had a chance to succeed.
Trump asserts authority over Iran strategy
In an interview with the Financial Times published on Sunday, Trump made clear that he sees Washington, not Jerusalem, as directing the response to the crisis. “I call the shots. I call all the shots. He doesn’t call the shots,” Trump said, referring to Netanyahu.
The president also suggested that Netanyahu would ultimately have to accept any agreement negotiated between Washington and Tehran.
“He won’t have any choice,” Trump said when asked whether the Israeli prime minister would support a potential US-Iran deal.
Diplomacy push amid military escalation
The comments came after Iran launched missiles toward Israel in response to Israeli strikes in Beirut. Trump later told Fox News he was “not happy” with the Israeli operation and sought to prevent further escalation.
According to Axios, Trump strongly urged Netanyahu not to retaliate immediately, believing the US was close to reaching an agreement with Iran.
Despite those efforts, Israel carried out strikes against Iranian targets after the missile launches.
However, Iran’s military announced on Monday that it had suspended its operations, saying it had delivered its intended message.
Trump subsequently indicated that both sides were showing interest in reaching an immediate ceasefire.
Iran's president says talks remain on track
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signaled that Tehran remains committed to negotiations with the United States despite the military confrontation.
In a post on X, Pezeshkian said Iran had neither abandoned diplomacy nor stepped away from defending its interests.
“Diplomacy and defense are the two wings of national power,” he wrote. “We have neither left the battlefield nor abandoned the negotiating table.”
