British diplomats have sounded the alarm over what they describe as a ‘crazy’ phone call between former US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that the conversation threatens to upend delicate negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme. Sources inside the Foreign Office confirm that the call, which took place late last week, has sent shockwaves through Whitehall and allied intelligence services. The transcript, obtained by this newsroom, reveals Trump urging Netanyahu to ‘hit them hard’ and ‘make them pay’ in reference to Iran, according to a senior diplomatic source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The same source described the exchange as ‘volatile and uncoordinated’, adding that it bypassed established diplomatic channels and risked undermining months of painstaking work by the UK, EU, and US negotiators. ‘This isn’t how grown-ups behave,’ the source said. ‘We have a fragile framework in place for talks, and one reckless phone call could collapse the whole house of cards.
’ The call comes at a critical juncture. Iran has signalled willingness to return to the negotiating table over its uranium enrichment programme, but hardliners in Tehran are watching for any sign of Western aggression. Trump’s alleged comments could provide them with the excuse they need to walk away.
Israeli officials have declined to comment on the content of the call, but a spokesperson for Netanyahu’s office issued a terse statement saying the two leaders ‘discussed regional security’. That’s diplomatic speak for ‘we’re not telling you what was said’, and it’s not fooling anyone. The Foreign Office has refused to confirm or deny the existence of the call, but sources confirm that an emergency meeting was convened at the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, with representatives from MI6 and GCHQ present.
The focus of that meeting? Damage limitation. One intelligence analyst described the situation as ‘a powder keg with a lit fuse’.
The fallout is already spreading. French and German diplomats have reached out to their British counterparts, expressing deep concern. The US State Department has been conspicuously silent, which insiders say indicates internal turmoil.
‘They’re scrambling to contain this mess,’ a former US intelligence officer told me. ‘Everyone knows Trump isn’t in office, but he still has a direct line to Netanyahu. That’s a problem.
’ The implications for the UK are significant. British diplomats have played a key role in facilitating backchannel communications between Washington and Tehran. If that trust is broken, the UK’s position as a mediator is compromised.
‘We can’t be seen as the ones who let the lunatics run the asylum,’ one Whitehall insider said. ‘But that’s precisely what’s happening.’ The question now is whether the damage can be undone.
Iran’s foreign ministry has already issued a statement calling for ‘clarity and respect’ from all parties. That’s code for ‘we heard about the call, and we’re not happy’. The clock is ticking.
Every hour that passes without a coordinated response increases the risk of a miscalculation. And in the Middle East, miscalculations have a way of turning into wars.
