President Donald Trump publicly accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of nearly sabotaging a peace deal between the US and Iran, calling him “a very difficult guy” in a New York Times interview published on June 14. The accusation came just hours after announcements that a preliminary framework between Washington and Tehran had been reached.
The deal, which extends a cease-fire initially agreed upon in April 2026 by an additional 60 days, includes provisions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease certain elements of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports. It also advances negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief.
What nearly went wrong
According to Trump’s account, recent Israeli military strikes, including attacks on Beirut, delayed the finalization of the agreement by several hours. The strikes came amid a broader US-Israel campaign against Iran that began in late February 2026, shortly after military operations were launched against Iranian targets.
Netanyahu’s administration has pushed back on the framework, arguing it doesn’t adequately address core security threats posed by Iran.
