Benjamin Netanyahu will do 'whatever I want him to do', says Donald Trump after pair hold crunch phone call over Iran

Donald Trump declared that Benjamin Netanyahu will "do whatever I want him to do" following what Israeli media described as a "dramatic" telephone confrontation between the two leaders over military action against Iran.

The US President made the remarks to journalists on Wednesday after reports emerged of a significant rift with the Israeli Prime Minister regarding the ongoing conflict with Tehran.

According to Israel's Channel 12, Mr Netanyahu holds doubts that diplomatic efforts will yield a peace agreement and favours resuming attacks on Iran.

Mr Trump, however, appears committed to pursuing a negotiated settlement that would eliminate Iran's nuclear capabilities.

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"He's a very good man. He'll do whatever I want him to do.

"And he's a great guy. Don't forget he was a wartime Prime Minister," the President stated when questioned about the Israeli leader's push for renewed military operations.

The conflict between the United States and Iran commenced on February 28 with coordinated American and Israeli military strikes.

Despite stating he was in "no hurry" to finalise an agreement with Tehran, Mr Trump indicated the White House had reached the "final stages" of its diplomatic negotiations.

"We hit them very hard. We may have to hit them even harder but maybe not," he added.

Israeli strategic analysts have grown increasingly worried in recent weeks that Mr Trump may accept what they consider a "weak" agreement on Iran's nuclear programme, despite his assurances otherwise.

Their concern centres on the possibility that Washington might prioritise ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz over securing robust nuclear restrictions.

Washington's proposed terms include Iran surrendering 450kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent.

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As well as maintaining just one nuclear facility, receiving less than a quarter of its frozen assets, and paying no war reparations.

Tehran's demands encompass an end to fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon, the removal of all sanctions, full release of frozen funds, compensation for war damage, and acknowledgement of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

Israeli military commanders have briefed that the IDF has "replenished" its catalogue of potential targets within Iran and believes further bombing could substantially weaken the regime.

Israel has also expressed mounting frustration with the Lebanese ceasefire arrangement, viewing it as constraining its forces whilst Hezbollah continues launching attacks against both soldiers and civilians.

Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Washington on Wednesday of seeking to restart hostilities while hoping for the Islamic Republic's destruction.

"For about a month, we have witnessed a ceasefire on the military battlefronts, but the enemy's overt and covert movements indicate that, alongside economic and political pressures, it has not abandoned its military objectives and is pursuing a new round of war and fresh adventurism," he stated in an audio message.

Mr Trump revealed on Monday that he had halted planned air strikes against Iran at the eleventh hour following appeals from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The New York Times reported that Washington's preferred candidate for regime change was former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was wounded by an Israeli strike apparently intended to liberate him from house arrest.

He has since disappeared from public view.

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