Bibi left in dark on US-Iran deal?

Diplomatic Tensions | PM says Israel was not part of parleys, but backs Trump’s terms

Stock markets up 1.000 points. Means they like the deal. Oil has dropped. Oil will start coming down too, even lower than it was before. When oil comes down, every­thing else comes down.

Donald Trump US President

Washington: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly “surprised” when US President Donald Trump called off planned strikes on Iran, citing Tehran’s approval of a draft ceasefire deal. Axios reported Netanyahu had been left in the dark on US-Iran negotiations and contacted Trump allies for updates.

Trump said discussions were approved by Iran’s lead­e­rship and multiple regional partners, including Israel, Sa­udi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Tur­ki­ye, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt. He spoke to Netanyahu, Qatari Emir Tamim al-Thani, and others before finalising the draft. Israel said it was “not a party” to the MoU, but Neta­n­yahu welcomed Trum­p’s commitment to nuclear curbs, miss­ile limits, and ending Iran’s support for terrorist proxies.

Trump and Bibi had aligned on Iran strategy, but diverging goals emerged: Trump sought a quick resolution, while Netanyahu aimed to neutralise Iran and proxies, including Hezbollah, even if prolonged.

Frustration grew: Ameri­cans blamed the war for rising fuel prices, while Israelis criticised Netanyahu for failing to secure a decisive win after Hamas’s Oct 2023 attack. Bibi has sometimes de­fied Trump, prompting pu­b­lic rebukes, including expletive-filled calls.

Trump’s support, including defending him on graft char­g­es and arms transfers, contr­asts with his push to end the war, leaving Bibi balancing the US’s demands with dome­stic pressure. 

–Agencies

Iran slams US over attacks on Indian crew

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei on Friday criticised the US attacks on merchant ships with Indian crew, saying such actions “threaten global peace and security”. Baqaei extended condolences to the bereaved families and the Indian government on X. “We extend our sympathies to the families and friends of the slain Indian sailors and offer our sincere condolences to the Indian people and government.

”He urged the international community to hold the US accountable, adding, its conduct “continues to threaten global peace and security while endangering the freedom of navigation.” He said the incidents “stand as clear evidence of America’s ongoing policy of armed robbery and state piracy.”