Washington: US President Donald Trump stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have no choice but to accept any nuclear deal that Washington negotiates with Tehran, emphasizing his sole authority over American foreign policy. In a telephone interview with the Financial Times, Trump declared, “He won’t have any choice. I call the shots. I call all the shots. He doesn’t call the shots.”

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump’s comments came in the wake of Iran launching ballistic missiles at targets in Israel, marking a significant breach of a ceasefire that had been agreed upon in early April. The President, in prior statements to Fox News, mentioned he would direct Netanyahu not to retaliate against Iran, following a phone conversation on the issue as reported by Axios and Israeli media.

Despite the ongoing tensions and the recent missile attack, Trump affirmed his commitment to pursuing a nuclear agreement with Iran. He stated, “It’s not going to have any impact on the deal. The deal may make it on its own merit, or not, but this will not have any effect on it.” Trump also indicated that failure in negotiations could lead to military intervention or an intensified economic blockade against Iran, highlighting the blockade’s effectiveness compared to military strikes.

The missile attack by Iran followed repeated Israeli strikes on targets in Lebanon, despite several US-brokered ceasefires. Notably, an Israeli strike on a Hezbollah position in Beirut provoked Iran’s missile response. Tehran has maintained that a lasting Israeli ceasefire in Lebanon is a necessary condition for any potential agreement with the United States.