Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the possibility of reaching a diplomatic agreement with Iran, referring to the country’s leadership as “savages” while backing US President Donald Trump’s latest economic pressure campaign. Netanyahu made the remarks during an event at an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday. His comments come as Washington weighs economic measures against Tehran while seeking to avoid another full-scale conflict.

Recounting a recent meeting with Trump, Netanyahu said the two leaders had discussed the possibility of pursuing diplomacy with the Islamic Republic. However, he expressed strong doubts that negotiations could produce an agreement with Iran’s current leadership. Netanyahu has long opposed diplomatic arrangements with Tehran and was an outspoken critic of the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated during former US President Barack Obama’s administration.

Netanyahu has also been publicly cautious about criticising Trump while the US president has pursued efforts to reach a settlement with Iran. Trump joined Israel in a joint attack on Iran in late February but agreed to a ceasefire in April amid widespread opposition to the war in the United States. The conflict had also contributed to a sharp rise in oil prices and increased concerns about the wider economic consequences of prolonged military action.

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Trump on Monday announced what he described as “economic D-Day”, signalling a renewed effort to place economic pressure on Iran. Tehran has already faced years of US sanctions, while Trump has indicated reluctance to return to a full-scale war despite growing frustration over Iran’s refusal to accept his demands. The latest strategy focuses on increasing economic pressure rather than immediately launching another major military campaign.

Netanyahu endorsed Trump’s approach and described economic pressure as a “third option” between diplomacy and full-scale military action. He praised Trump for pursuing the strategy strongly and said the US was targeting not only Iran itself but also entities that assist its government. Netanyahu argued that increasing pressure on Iran’s economic network could weaken the Islamic Republic and restrict support for groups aligned with Tehran.

The Israeli prime minister has for years advocated stronger US action against Iran, whose government supports armed groups including Hezbollah and Hamas. Israel’s long-running confrontation with Iran intensified after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent regional conflict. Netanyahu’s latest comments underline the continuing divide between his position and efforts to find a diplomatic solution, as Washington considers how far to push economic pressure on Tehran.

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