Trump Claims Israel Follows His Lead Amid Iran Deal Tensions

President Donald Trump has said Israel respects his directives and suggested he plays a key role in influencing the country’s military decisions, as disagreements continue between U.S. and Israeli leaders over Washington’s recent agreement with Iran.

In an interview with Axios published Friday, Trump described his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as positive but remarked that “we have to keep him a little bit sane.” He also claimed he has the ability to restrain Israeli military actions, stating, “They have a lot of respect for me, and so they do as I say.”

The comments came shortly after Israel carried out a series of strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah targets in Lebanon overnight Thursday. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 47 people were killed in the attacks. Later on Friday, Israel and Hezbollah entered a new ceasefire arrangement. Trump told NBC that he had urged Israel to halt the fighting, though he declined to say whether he had spoken directly with Netanyahu.

The dispute reflects broader tensions surrounding the U.S.-Iran agreement negotiated by the Trump administration. Vice President JD Vance, who led the American negotiating team, criticized Israeli officials who have publicly opposed the deal. Vance said that if he were part of Israel’s government, he would avoid attacking “the only powerful ally” the country has left.

Trump also reiterated his argument that Israel’s security has depended heavily on his actions, maintaining that his administration prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon that could have been used against Israel.

Speaking further with Axios, Trump argued that the conflict with Iran demonstrated the extent of his authority. When asked whether the war had tested the limits of presidential power, he responded, “There are no limits.” He also contended that his agreement with Tehran helped avert a global economic crisis by ending conditions that had disrupted oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest tensions come after the United States and Iran canceled talks that had been scheduled for Friday in Switzerland. The meeting was intended to begin negotiations on a final agreement following a memorandum of understanding signed earlier in the week to end military hostilities. The memorandum also called for U.S. allies, including Israel, to halt fighting on other fronts, particularly in Lebanon.

Netanyahu has maintained that Israel was not involved in negotiating the agreement and is not bound by its provisions. He has also pledged to maintain an Israeli military presence in Lebanon. According to three unnamed diplomats cited by The New York Times, Iran withdrew from the planned Switzerland talks after Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah overnight Wednesday.

Disagreements over Israel’s operations in Lebanon have repeatedly complicated efforts to advance negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The issue has reportedly frustrated Trump, who has openly criticized Netanyahu in recent weeks. During a phone conversation earlier this month, Trump said he told the Israeli leader he was “crazy” and “a little bit perturbed.” On Sunday, as the U.S. and Iran prepared to digitally sign the memorandum of understanding, Trump told Axios he was furious over Israeli military action in Lebanon and said he informed Netanyahu that he had “no f—king judgement.”