JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he saw no possibility of reaching a diplomatic agreement with Iran, while endorsing U.S. President Donald Trump’s intensified campaign to pressure Tehran’s economy.
Speaking at an event in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank on Aug. 25, Netanyahu described Iran’s leaders in derogatory terms and said negotiations with them could not succeed. He said he had discussed the possibility of diplomacy with Trump but remained convinced that an agreement was unattainable.
Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s decision to pursue what the U.S. president has called “economic D-Day” against Iran. The campaign seeks to deepen sanctions and tighten pressure on countries and entities accused of supporting Tehran, rather than immediately launching another full-scale military offensive.
The Israeli prime minister said Trump had chosen a “third option” by targeting Iran’s economy and those assisting its government. Netanyahu praised the U.S. president for implementing the strategy with strong measures as tensions between Washington, Jerusalem and Tehran remain high.
Netanyahu has long opposed diplomatic engagement with Iran and campaigned against the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated under former U.S. President Barack Obama. His latest remarks underline Israel’s preference for sustained pressure, even as Trump appears reluctant to return to an open-ended war.
Iran’s support for armed groups including Hezbollah and Hamas remains a central source of tension between Tehran and Israel. Netanyahu has repeatedly urged Washington to confront Iran over its nuclear programme, missile capabilities and backing for regional allies.