Media: Netanyahu frustrated with Trump’s inaction on Middle East

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has privately expressed frustration with President Donald Trump's handling of Middle Eastern affairs, particularly over his perceived failure to follow through on promises made regarding Iran and Syria.

In recent confidential discussions, Netanyahu reportedly confided in his aides that, while Trump articulates strong positions on these issues, his actions have not aligned with his rhetoric, Caliber.Az reports per Israel Hayom.

The Israeli leader is particularly concerned about Trump’s support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, especially as the US President has facilitated Erdoğan’s consolidation of power in Syria.

This unease comes despite Trump offering Israel what seemed to be a green light for any necessary actions in Syria. Netanyahu has also raised concerns about the US President’s willingness to engage in negotiations with Iran and make potential concessions, particularly following the departure of National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

Waltz, known for his hardline stance on Iran and the Middle East, was dismissed recently, with Trump indicating that the reassignment was part of a broader reshuffling. Netanyahu has reportedly voiced concerns over this move, fearing that it could lead to a softening of US policy towards Tehran.

However, the appointment of Senator Marco Rubio as the new national security adviser, known for his tough approach towards Iran, has somewhat alleviated these concerns in Jerusalem. Despite this, Netanyahu’s frustrations remain, with particular attention to Trump's comments about potentially allowing Iran to pursue a civilian nuclear programme in any future deal. In a recent interview, Trump indicated that while he could entertain the idea, he remained committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

In a related development, The Washington Post reported that one of the reasons for Waltz's dismissal was his "intense discussions" with Netanyahu regarding a possible military strike on Iran, just hours before a planned Trump-Netanyahu summit. Netanyahu has denied these claims.

Meanwhile, President Trump has announced that Waltz will be reassigned as US ambassador to the United Nations, with Rubio taking over his national security role. This comes amid the fallout from a recent scandal, in which members of the Trump administration, including Waltz, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Vice President Vance, were caught discussing sensitive US military strategies in Yemen in an unsecured group chat.

The conversation included classified intelligence provided by Israel that led to the assassination of a senior Houthi figure. Waltz was criticised for mistakenly adding The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat.

By Aghakazim Guliyev