President Donald Trump told the Financial Times he "calls the shots" and said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have "no choice" but to accept any US-negotiated deal with Iran. His comments followed Iranian ballistic missile strikes on Israel, which the US called a serious breach of the April ceasefire. Trump said the attacks would not derail talks, raised the possibility of military action if negotiations fail, and referenced a blockade as an alternative. A leaked call with Netanyahu and Iran's demand for a permanent Israeli ceasefire have added to diplomatic tensions.
Trump: "I Call the Shots" — Netanyahu Will Have "No Choice" But To Accept Any US‑Iran Deal
Photo Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
US President Donald Trump told the Financial Times that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have "no choice" but to accept any agreement the United States negotiates with Iran, saying, "I call all the shots. He doesn’t call the shots." The comments came as tensions rose after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel.
Context and Reaction
The remarks followed what the US described as the most serious breach of a ceasefire established in early April. Trump told Fox News he would advise Netanyahu not to retaliate against Tehran and argued the strikes "did not kick at all," saying they would not derail negotiations with Iran. He also framed the dispute in sweeping historical terms.
Negotiations And Alternatives
Trump said the deal was still underway but did not suggest an agreement was imminent: "I think the deal is going on. We'll see what happens," he told the Financial Times, adding that the outcome would stand or fall "on its own merit." When asked about possible consequences if talks collapsed, the president raised the prospect of military action — "Possibly we would go in and take care of the rest of the place" — and cited an existing blockade as a nonkinetic alternative.
Leaked Call And Diplomatic Fallout
The comments came after Axios reported a leaked private call in which a US official quoted Trump telling Netanyahu, "You're f**king crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me." Trump confirmed the call took place and did not dispute the characterization. Iranian officials have said a lasting Israeli ceasefire is a precondition for any deal.
"He won’t have any choice... I call all the shots. He doesn’t call the shots," — Donald Trump, Financial Times interview.
Sources: Financial Times, Fox News, Axios. Reporting indicates diplomatic tensions remain high as negotiations continue and regional actors press competing preconditions.
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