Netanyahu says Trump is in full control of Iran war, denies influencing strikes after DC meeting

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in an ABC News interview on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump is fully in control of the war with Iran, denying claims he influenced Trump's decisions. Netanyahu clarified that he did not push Trump into the conflict or persuade him to launch new strikes after their recent Washington meeting, asserting, "nobody tells President Trump what to do." He described Trump as the "senior partner" in the US-Israeli relationship. During their closed-door meeting, they discussed options to resolve the conflict, including negotiations, the Strait of Hormuz blockade, and potential military action. Netanyahu claimed Iran is weakened but expressed skepticism about diplomatic solutions, stating, "They always lie, they always cheat, and they always play for time." He also suggested that the Strait of Hormuz's leverage would diminish post-conflict as energy pipelines could bypass it. While Israel remains uninvolved in current US strikes, Netanyahu warned that any Iranian attack on Israel would be met with a "very, very forceful" response.