Axios: Trump’s pending Iran deal looms as political blow to Netanyahu

President Donald Trump has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a nuclear agreement with Iran is expected to be signed within days, marking a significant diplomatic shift that Israeli officials view with concern.

According to a senior US official cited in the Axios report, Trump informed Netanyahu in a call on Thursday (June 11) evening that: “This is the deal. It's a great deal, and it's time to end this war.”

The development underscores growing divergence between Washington and Jerusalem over the trajectory of the Iran negotiations, with Israeli officials privately warning the agreement could constrain their military freedom of action in the region.

Netanyahu, who had previously aligned closely with Trump on confronting Tehran, had expected a more hardline outcome, including potential regime pressure in Iran. Instead, he now faces domestic criticism, with political opponents accusing him of effectively accepting US terms and reducing Israel’s strategic autonomy.

“Bibi probably understood that a deal was about to happen and that he could not to stop it,” the US official said.

The report also indicates that Israeli planners had considered escalation options in recent days, including strikes on Iranian energy and infrastructure targets, before being restrained by the White House.

Tensions further increased after Trump publicly suggested an agreement had been reached, reportedly surprising Israeli officials who were not fully briefed on the negotiations. Netanyahu later told Trump he would trust him to ensure Israel’s security concerns were addressed in the final deal.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stressed that Israel retained operational flexibility, saying the country would continue to act independently if necessary. He also acknowledged US strategic priorities, noting that Trump was acting “based on his assessment of American interests,” while expecting alignment on key security principles.

Officials in Washington, however, have sought to reassure Israel that any agreement would require Iranian compliance before sanctions relief or economic benefits are delivered.

“We feel like when they see the full terms of the deal, and when they appreciate that fundamentally, that there has to be delivery from the Iranians before we deliver any of the benefits, that they're comfortable with that,” a senior US official said.

Concerns in Israel also extend to the regional implications of the deal, particularly in relation to Hezbollah in Lebanon, where cross-border tensions with Israeli forces remain active. Israeli officials fear the agreement could limit future military responses and introduce new coordination requirements with Washington.

“The Israeli leader told Trump he trusts him to make sure the final agreement addresses their shared concerns around Iran's nuclear program.”

U.S. officials maintain confidence that Israel will ultimately support the agreement once details are fully disclosed.

“We understand the Israeli skepticism,” a senior US official said, adding: “What we do expect is that if we're able to have everyone participate in the peace process, that everyone else will do the same.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev