Relations between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu have sharply deteriorated after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding. The document, concluded with Pakistan’s mediation, provides for a cessation of hostilities and the start of 60 days of negotiations to reach a final agreement. In Israel this was called a political and strategic shock, undermining the so-called “absolute victory” and restricting the freedom of action of the Israeli army on the northern front.
According to Israeli assessments, American pressure includes practical demands: withdrawal of forces from southern Lebanon and from Syria’s Mount Hermon, as well as a scaling back of military activity in the north in order to preserve the diplomatic channel with Tehran. Washington is said to be insisting on leaving five positions that the IDF still holds in Lebanon, and expects clear commitments from Netanyahu that Trump could present as his success. In response, the Israeli prime minister rejected a full troop withdrawal, saying he would not yield on security matters, and tied any redeployment to strict guarantees for the disarmament of Hezbollah.
A particular concern in Israel was Trump’s statement downplaying the importance of Iran’s missile program compared with the nuclear threat. He stressed that the core problem is not to deprive Iran of all missile capabilities, but to prevent it from creating nuclear weapons. In Jerusalem it spread that Netanyahu made it clear: Israeli forces will not leave southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed. This dispute has raised fears that Israel could face practical measures from the United States.
Israeli sources report unofficial signals from Washington: if the confrontation continues, the US could delay weapons deliveries, impose restrictions on operational assistance, and even move closer to what is called in Israel an “arms embargo.” Tensions intensified after Trump’s public criticism, in which he accused Netanyahu of excessive bellicosity and condemned strikes on Lebanon, calling attacks on buildings in Beirut “unnecessary and damaging to de-escalation efforts.” The American press reported that Trump suspects the Israeli prime minister of prolonging hostilities for domestic purposes ahead of elections.
The domestic reaction in Israel was angry, especially among Netanyahu’s supporters, who regarded the US‑Iran agreement as a strategic failure. Media outlets that had earlier supported Trump and were close to the prime minister sharply turned and began attacking the US president and his team. According to Axios, the leading pro-government channel “14” gave Vice President Vance insulting nicknames and accused special envoys Whitkoff and Kushner of having “sold Israel” for personal gain. This shows the scale of the political and media rift.
Caught off guard by the timing of the announcement, Netanyahu undertook urgent contacts with the US administration, trying to change the terms of the agreement or obtain additional guarantees — but without visible results. The memorandum, signed by Trump and Iranian President Pezeshkian, opens a new 60-day negotiation phase. The current confrontation between Tel Aviv and Washington puts the future of military‑political cooperation at risk and could lead to diplomatic and operational escalation if the dispute continues.
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Why are control of Mount Hermon and southern Lebanon considered by Israel to be critically important for its security, and what role does Hezbollah play in this? — Mount Hermon and southern Lebanon represent strategic heights from which observation and fire can be directed at Israel’s northern and central regions. Hezbollah, supported by Iran, uses southern Lebanon as a base for rocket installations and tunnels, creating a direct threat to Israeli cities. Control over these areas allows Israel to prevent surprise attacks, disrupt Hezbollah’s weapons supply chains, and maintain military superiority in the region.
Who is Masud Pezeshkian and what are his powers as president of Iran in the context of negotiations with the US? — Masud Pezeshkian is an Iranian politician, a surgeon by training, who served as health minister in Mohammad Khatami’s government. As president of Iran (since 2024), he has limited authority in foreign policy and negotiations with the US, since final decisions on the nuclear program and strategic issues are made by the Supreme Leader (Ali Khamenei). Pezeshkian can initiate talks or offer compromises, but any agreements must be approved by the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
What is the difference between Iran’s missile program and the nuclear threat, and why do Israelis consider this distinction dangerous for their security? — Iran’s missile program includes the development of ballistic missiles with ranges up to 2,000 km and guidance accuracy, which already allows strikes on Israel. The nuclear threat, meanwhile, is linked to the possibility of creating a nuclear warhead that could be mounted on such missiles. Israel sees this distinction as dangerous because the missile program provides Iran with immediate strike capability, while nuclear potential adds the threat of catastrophic impact. Thus, even if the nuclear program is frozen, missile capabilities remain a tool of destabilization and deterrence, leaving Israeli cities and air‑defense systems vulnerable.
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