‘If I tell him to do something, he does it’: Tensions continue between Trump and Netanyahu over Iran conflict

Following reports of heated exchanges between U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the past few days, the president appeared intent to signal that there is no rupture in their relationship.

In a phone call with the BBC’s North America Editor Sarah Smith on Monday, Trump denied that Netanyahu had defied him by ordering retaliatory strikes on Iran, saying that by the time he spoke with Netanyahu, the Israeli missiles “had already gone. They were already on their way.” 

President Trump also denied having a heated confrontation with Netanyahu in that phone call. 

“All I did is say, ‘We have to use sense,’” President Trump told Smith regarding his conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu. “We’re very close to signing a very powerful deal, a very good deal.” 

However, the president indicated that he is still in control of the negotiations with Iran and that Israel will not upset the deal being worked out. 

“If I tell him to do something, he does it,” President Trump said regarding Netanyahu. 

In a Hebrew-language speech to the Israeli public Monday evening, Prime Minister Netanyahu stressed that he insisted on Israel's "full right" to self-defense," including, "with appreciation and respect, in my good conversations with my friend President Trump."

But he also indicated that Israel stands ready to strike Iran if targeted again: “At present, the fire on this front has been halted, because after the terrorist regime in Tehran was struck, it stopped attacking us,” Netanyahu said in the statement. “If that terrorist regime makes the mistake of attacking us again, we will respond with force.” 

Sky News U.S. correspondent James Matthews also spoke briefly with President Trump, who said he does not believe Israel will return to war with Iran. Matthews asked President Trump, “If Netanyahu goes back to war with Iran, will you be with him?” 

“I don't think it'll happen,” President Trump was reported to respond. “It's all working out very well. Iran is doing what they have to do; I don’t think that's going to happen, ok?” 

President Trump had previously told Axios that he would urge Netanyahu not to retaliate after Iran attacked Israel with ballistic missiles. 

Matthews said he asked Trump a follow-up question about what he would do if Netanyahu ordered additional strikes on Iran, but the U.S. president “hung up” instead of answering. 

Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One on Monday night, President Trump further downplayed the idea that Netanyahu had defied his orders. “We had a very good conversation,” President Trump said, referring to his morning phone call with Netanyahu. “He was hit, and he hit back. And I can’t blame him for that.” 

#WATCH | On speaking to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald J Trump says, "He was hit (by Iran), and he hit back. I can't blame him for that. Now they've called it quits. So they're gonna leave each other alone for another week or something... They both agreed,… pic.twitter.com/eZO1w1cZuG

— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2026

The president also said negotiations are “in the final throes of what will be a very good deal, that will not allow in any way, shape, or form nuclear weapons.” 

Trump’s comments regarding the focus on the nuclear issue were reiterated by Vice President JD Vance in an interview with Fox News that aired Monday; however, he also cautioned that the allies' interests don't always align.

“I think where the president has been very clear here is that while Israel obviously has some objectives that it has, the United States’ main objective in Iran is to ensure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon,” Vance told Fox News. 

“Over the last year and a half, we've created the space necessary where the president believes – and I think that he's right – that we can get the long-term settlement to Iran's nuclear deal,” Vance continued. 

“Now, Israel may like that, they may not like that,” he added. “But fundamentally, we think this is in the best interest of the United States of America.” 

According to reports on Channel 13, Israel wanted to carry out a more significant strike on Iran, with a larger number of targets, but the Trump administration did not authorize a broad response. Among the sites Israel considered targeting were additional energy facilities. 

Besides the conversation between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump, Netanyahu and other Israeli officials also held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, where they discussed in depth the targets Israel planned to strike. 

Channel 13 cited Israeli officials briefed on the conversations, who said that the president told Netanyahu to “strike and close the incident.” 

The American administration understood that Israel would respond, despite Trump’s statements to the media, but cautioned Israel to lower the intensity of the attack to prevent a renewal of the war.