As the United States and Iran prepare to sign a peace agreement aimed at ending the nearly three-month conflict in West Asia, US President Donald Trump has publicly criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him a "difficult guy" to deal with.
The remarks come as Washington and Tehran move closer to formalising a deal that would end hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift the US naval blockade imposed during the conflict.
The war began nearly three months ago after the US and Israel launched a series of strikes against Iran, triggering a wider regional conflict that contributed to a global energy crisis and eventually spilled over into Lebanon.
From March onwards, the conflict expanded when Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, joined the fighting. The escalation led to renewed clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, with Netanyahu authorising an expanded military campaign in southern Lebanon that reportedly displaced around one million people.
Despite occasional objections from Trump, Israel continued its military operations in Lebanon, complicating efforts to secure a broader ceasefire in the region. The continued fighting also resulted in additional attacks on US military bases in the Gulf, as Iran pushed for Lebanon to be included in any future truce arrangement.
Although Washington and Tehran have now announced a framework for peace, uncertainty remains over Lebanon's role in the agreement. While Pakistan has indicated that Lebanon will be included in the deal, Israel has insisted that it reserves the right to act independently.
Trump targets Netanyahu
In an interview with The New York Times, Trump said a deal with Iran had been reached despite Israeli objections and suggested that Israel should be grateful for American support.
"He should be very thankful to us for doing this. Because if Iran had a nuclear weapon, Israel wouldn't be around for two hours," Trump said.
The US President also expressed frustration over Israeli strikes on Beirut, claiming they took place just hours before Washington was due to announce the agreement with Iran.
According to Axios, Trump criticised Netanyahu's decision-making and accused him of undermining the peace process. He has no f***ing judgement. I let him know that," Trump reportedly said.
He added that the attack delayed the signing process by several hours.
"It shook it up. It delayed the signing by a few hours. It was supposed to be now. Now it is scheduled for a few hours from now," he said.
This is not the first sign of tension between the two leaders. Earlier this month, Axios reported that Trump had described Netanyahu as "f***ing crazy" during a heated phone conversation.
Trump later acknowledged the disagreement while downplaying suggestions that he was angry.
"I wouldn't say angry. I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon," Trump said during an appearance on the New York Post's Pod Force One.
US-Iran deal to be signed in Switzerland
According to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the US-Iran agreement will be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday.
The proposed deal includes an end to military operations, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the removal of the US naval blockade.
"With the opening of the Strait upon the signing of the deal on Friday, for purposes of mine removal, oil will flow on both ends again for the region, and the world," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Following the signing, both countries are expected to enter a 60-day negotiation period focused on Iran's nuclear programme and sanctions-related issues, long-standing points of contention between Tehran, Washington and Israel.
The agreement is being viewed as a significant step towards reducing tensions in West Asia and restoring stability to one of the world's most important energy corridors.
