Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly persuaded U.S. President Donald Trump not to agree to a ceasefire deal with Iran. Netanyahu argued that a ceasefire at the current stage would carry significant risks. As discord grows between Israel and the United States, Israel has recalibrated its strike targets on Iranian energy and infrastructure facilities in anticipation of a breakdown in ceasefire negotiations.
According to the Times of Israel on Sunday, Netanyahu strongly advised Trump against entering a ceasefire agreement with Iran at the current stage during a call the previous day. Netanyahu called Trump on Saturday to express concerns about a potential ceasefire with Iran. Netanyahu conveyed that a ceasefire at this stage would carry significant risks, but Trump responded that "a ceasefire is possible if Iran accepts U.S. demands."
Tensions have recently escalated as the U.S. and Israel push their respective positions. Netanyahu referenced his call with Trump, saying the president described Israel as "great." Netanyahu characterized this as Trump viewing Israel as a strong and resolute ally standing shoulder to shoulder with the United States.
However, Trump the previous day described Israel as a "little brother," saying it had helped "a little bit" in the rescue operation for a downed American pilot, effectively downplaying Israel's contribution.
Despite this, Netanyahu stated at a meeting with senior officials on Saturday that operations against Lebanon's Hezbollah would not be halted even if Iran and the United States reached a ceasefire. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that "the ultimate goal of the Lebanon operation is to disarm Hezbollah through all military and political means," adding that it "includes areas north of the Litani River."
According to AFP, Reuters and other wire services, the Israeli military continued its strikes on Iran's Assaluyeh petrochemical complex for a second day on Monday. Assaluyeh is a strategic hub of Iran's energy industry, located adjacent to South Pars, the world's largest offshore gas field in Iran's southern waters.
Iran struck back forcefully. According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, Iran launched retaliatory strikes against the largest petrochemical industrial complex in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Jubail is one of the world's largest industrial zones, housing production facilities for steel, gasoline, petrochemical products, lubricants and chemical fertilizers. The petrochemical products manufactured there total 60 million tons annually, accounting for 6 to 8 percent of global production.