Donald Trump has reportedly urged Benjamin Netanyahu not to strike back after Iran launched missiles at Israel, warning that another Israeli retaliation could derail U.S.-led efforts to secure a deal with Tehran. According to reports, Trump said Netanyahu would have “no choice” but to accept a U.S.-backed agreement with Iran, adding that he “calls the shots” — a blunt message that appears to place Washington, not Israel’s war cabinet, at the centre of the next major decision.
The reported intervention comes as Israel faces pressure from hardliners demanding a forceful response, while the U.S. is trying to stop the latest exchange from spiralling into a wider regional war. Trump has publicly called for both Israel and Iran to stop “shooting,” while reports say he directly pressed Netanyahu not to retaliate after Iran’s missile barrage.
For Netanyahu, the situation exposes a major political and strategic squeeze. If he strikes back, he risks clashing with Washington and undermining Trump’s Iran diplomacy. If he holds back, he risks angering Israeli hardliners who see restraint as weakness. The deeper question now is not only whether Israel responds, but who is really deciding how far this war is allowed to go: Netanyahu in Jerusalem, or Trump in Washington.