President Donald Trump is set to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday about the proposed Iran deal, a conversation that follows what has already been a remarkably contentious week of diplomacy between the two allies.
The call comes days after Trump publicly pegged the odds of reaching an agreement with Iran at “50/50.” Netanyahu, meanwhile, has been considerably less optimistic, with Israeli officials describing the interim terms on the table as “very bad.”
A week of diplomatic whiplash
On May 20, Trump and Netanyahu held a phone call that sources described as tense. Netanyahu reportedly pushed back hard against the proposed diplomatic framework, which centers on a “letter of intent” for a cessation of hostilities followed by 30 days of negotiations focused on Iran’s nuclear program and security of the Strait of Hormuz.
By May 23, Netanyahu had convened an urgent meeting with coalition leaders and security officials to discuss the deal’s unfavorable terms. The meeting signaled a significant shift in Israeli posture, from proactive military engagement against Iranian assets earlier in 2026 to facing a potential de-escalation framework that Jerusalem views as insufficiently protective of its interests.
