Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has warned of a widening divide between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Iran conflict, arguing that Washington and Jerusalem no longer share the same strategic goals.
In an interview with writer and social media influencer Mario Nawfal, Olmert said the relationship between Trump and Netanyahu may be approaching a breaking point.
Olmert said Trump wants the conflict with Iran to end quickly. According to him, the US president seeks to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, stabilize oil prices, calm financial markets, and avoid a prolonged Middle East war.
Netanyahu, however, faces different political pressures, Olmert argued. He said the Israeli premier still views Iran as an unresolved threat and leads a coalition dominated by hardline parties favoring military escalation.
Olmert Criticizes Trump’s Iran Policy
Olmert also questioned Trump’s previous Iran strategy. He argued that Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear agreement intensified the current crisis.
According to Olmert, Israel had found no evidence that Iran violated the deal when Washington abandoned it. He said Iran accelerated uranium enrichment after the agreement collapsed, deepening regional tensions.
Olmert said Washington now seeks renewed negotiations with Tehran after military strikes pushed the region closer to wider conflict. He warned that Iran has emerged stronger, making diplomacy more difficult and costly.
Military Action Cannot Replace Diplomacy
Olmert stressed that military force can only provide temporary solutions. He said lasting stability requires a comprehensive political strategy.
He argued that this principle applies not only to Iran, but also to conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza, as well as future US-Israel relations.
Olmert warned that if Trump pursues de-escalation while Netanyahu’s coalition seeks further confrontation, the two allies could face their most serious political rupture in decades.
