A telephone conversation between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has upended ongoing diplomatic efforts to contain Iran's nuclear programme, according to senior White House officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The call, described by one insider as “crazy” and “unprecedented in its disregard for established protocol,” took place on Tuesday evening, hours before a scheduled meeting between US negotiators and European allies to finalise a new framework for talks with Tehran.
Netanyahu, who has long opposed any deal that leaves Iran with enrichment capability, is understood to have pressed Trump to abandon the negotiating track entirely and pursue a policy of “maximum pressure” aimed at regime change. Trump reportedly agreed to several of the prime minister's demands, including a directive to suspend all backchannel communications with Iranian representatives.
American diplomats in Vienna, who had been laying groundwork for a resumption of multilateral negotiations, were caught off guard. One official described the mood as “one of shock and resignation.” The State Department has not commented publicly, but a spokesperson confirmed that the administration was reviewing its Iran posture.
European capitals reacted with dismay. The French foreign ministry issued a statement expressing “grave concern” over the apparent collapse of coordination, while Germany's foreign minister warned that unilateral action risked escalating tensions across the Middle East.
Iran, for its part, responded through state media, calling the development a sign of “US bad faith.” Tehran had been signalling willingness to return to compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, provided sanctions relief was forthcoming.
This is not the first time a Trump-Netanyahu exchange has complicated American foreign policy. During Trump's first term, the two leaders frequently coordinated to isolate Iran diplomatically, culminating in the 2018 withdrawal from the JCPOA. However, current officials had hoped that the Biden-era infrastructure, combined with Trump's stated desire to end overseas entanglements, would allow for a more pragmatic approach.
The episode raises fundamental questions about the coherence of US strategy. It is unclear whether Trump's concessions to Netanyahu represent a settled policy or an impulsive accommodation. Several aides are said to be lobbying for a reversal, arguing that abandoning diplomacy strengthens hardliners in Tehran and erodes American credibility with allies.
An emergency meeting of the National Security Council has been called for later this week. The White House press office has not yet scheduled a briefing.
As of now, the full transcript of the call has not been released. What is clear is that the phone conversation has set back months of careful diplomacy, leaving the region in a state of heightened uncertainty.
