Beirut: US President Donald Trump publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the second consecutive day, just hours before their scheduled meeting at the White House. In an interview with Fox News, Trump expressed his discontent over Netanyahu's decision to publicly address concerns about Iran's underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility rather than discussing it privately with him.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump questioned Netanyahu's motives, suggesting that the Israeli Prime Minister was highlighting the site to influence Washington's involvement in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Trump emphasized that the US was already aware of the developments at the facility and had comprehensive knowledge of the situation. He further stated that while the US military had destroyed significant portions of Iran's military infrastructure, the Pickaxe site remained a potential target unless a diplomatic deal could be reached.
Trump also addressed criticism from Israel regarding potential US military sales to Turkey. He defended Turkey as a key US ally and described President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a friend, asserting that the US would not be dictated to about what military equipment it could sell. The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu is expected to focus on Iran, Gaza, and regional security issues.
In a related statement, Trump issued a strong warning about Iran's civilian infrastructure, indicating that he could destroy major bridges in a matter of hours, which would take Iran a decade to rebuild. He claimed the capability to disable power plants within a day, potentially leaving millions without electricity, although he expressed hesitance to target water desalination plants to avoid harming civilians.
Despite the tensions, Trump revealed ongoing negotiations with Tehran, asserting that the US is engaged in constructive discussions with the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He dismissed Iranian officials' public denials about the nature of these discussions, noting a pattern of contradictory statements from Iranian authorities.