Trump says Israel should be ‘happy’ with Iran deal, confirms ‘dispute’ over Lebanon

President Trump criticizes Israel over Lebanon war, says Israel has no right to oppose Iran deal after failing to take part in the 2020 killing of Iranian general.

By World Israel News Staff

President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that Israel is in a weak position to criticize his new Iran agreement, pointing to what he said was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision not to join the 2020 US strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, Trump defended the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran and pushed back at critics calling for continued military pressure on Tehran.

“They’ve been wonderful to me, Israel, but they didn’t want to do that attack,” Trump said, referring to the 2020 operation against Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.

“They were all set the night before the attack. Then [Israel told] me they didn’t want to do it,” Trump added, saying he decided to proceed with the strike without Israeli participation.

Trump then criticized those now opposing his Iran deal.

“For all of those so-called geniuses who want to show me how smart they are, ask them why didn’t they blow up General Soleimani,” Trump said.

Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport on January 3, 2020. Trump has previously accused Netanyahu of backing away from the operation, saying in 2023 that the Israeli leader “let us down” before the strike. Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond Wednesday to Trump’s renewed criticism.

The comments came as Trump sought to defend the US-Iran MoU, which entered into force this week and opened a 60-day period for negotiations over a broader agreement. The deal includes an Iranian pledge not to develop nuclear weapons and calls for further talks on its nuclear program, while also addressing sanctions relief, the Strait of Hormuz and regional fighting.

Israel has raised objections to the agreement, particularly over its treatment of Lebanon. The MoU extends the US-Iran ceasefire framework to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and includes language recognizing “the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.”

Israeli officials have said Israel is not bound by provisions negotiated between Washington and Tehran and will continue to act against Hezbollah threats.

Trump used the same press conference to again criticize Netanyahu’s conduct in Lebanon, while also praising him personally.

“Bibi Netanyahu happens to be a good man, but he gets a little excited sometimes,” Trump said, also calling him an “amazing prime minister.”

“We have a little dispute over Lebanon. I say, ‘You can do a little softer touch, Bibi. You don’t have to knock down a building every time somebody walks into it that’s from Hezbollah,’” Trump said.

“But it’s been an amazing partnership. [Netanyahu] will say [the US is] the big partner, and [Israel’s] the very small partner, and that’s true,” he added.

Axios reported that Israeli officials view the Iran deal as a strategic and political blow to Netanyahu, who had promised “total victory” in the war against Iran. The report said Netanyahu has avoided directly criticizing Trump, while Israeli officials have expressed concern in background briefings.

Trump argued Wednesday that Netanyahu should welcome the agreement because it addresses Israel’s central concern: Iran’s nuclear program.

“I told Bibi, ‘The biggest risk was that they drop a nuclear weapon into the middle of Israel,” Trump said.

“‘Think of it, Bibi. The most important thing that you were asking for is that,’” Trump continued. “So, I think they’re [Israel] happy.”

The agreement has drawn criticism from some Republicans, who say it leaves Iran’s missile program and regional proxies insufficiently constrained.

Sen. Bill Cassidy called it the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades,” while Sen. Thom Tillis said the 14 points published Wednesday were “not sufficient for me to say it’s a good deal.”

Trump also addressed Gaza during the G7 press conference, saying his administration had helped reduce Hamas activity there.

“Look at the job we’ve done in Gaza. Hamas has been very silent. You haven’t read anything about Hamas,” he said.

“When they were born, they came out with a machine gun in their hand, so it’s not the easiest thing, but they’ve actually behaved pretty well, considering this was not the lifestyle that they were taught,” Trump added.