President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday reportedly had a heated, profanity-laced phone conversation over the state of peace negotiations with Iran and Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
Earlier in the day, Iran announced that it would be suspending indirect peace talks with the United States, citing Israeli military operations in Lebanon as a violation of the ceasefire framework. According to Iranian state media, including Tasnim, Tehran’s negotiating team halted communications through mediators in protest of what it described as aggressive actions by Israel against Hezbollah targets.
This was later confirmed by Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi in a direct statement.
Not long after the announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that negotiations with Iran were actually continuing despite the Iranian announcement. In a Truth Social post, Trump indicated talks were proceeding at a “rapid pace.”
He also described a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “very productive,” claiming it resulted in Israel halting plans for a major operation in Beirut and turning back any troops en route. Trump further stated that, through intermediaries, that he had secured an agreement from Hezbollah representatives for a reciprocal cessation of attacks.
Netanyahu then responded with a social media post of his own, in which he indicated that Israeli forces would continue operations as planned in southern Lebanon. “I spoke this evening with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not stop attacking our cities and citizens, Israel will strike terrorist targets in Beirut,” Netanyahu said.
“Our position remains unchanged. At the same time, the IDF will continue operating in southern Lebanon as planned,” he added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“I spoke this evening with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not stop attacking our cities and citizens, Israel will strike terrorist targets in Beirut.
Our position remains unchanged.
At the same time, the IDF will continue…
— גיא עזריאל Guy Azriel (@GuyAz) June 1, 2026
The phone conversation between Trump and Netanyahu was described as notably tense, according to a report from Axios, which cited two White House sources familiar with the call.
Trump expressed strong frustration with Netanyahu’s decision to escalate combat operations in Lebanon, which he viewed as jeopardizing U.S. talks with Iran. “You’re f***ing crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this,” the president reportedly told Netanyahu.
Another source recalled Trump yelling, “What the f*** are you doing?”
The call was described by officials as among the most contentious between the two leaders since Trump’s return to office.
Following the call, Trump publicly framed the discussion positively on Truth Social, stating he had asked Netanyahu “not to go into a major raid of Beirut, Lebanon” and that “He turned his Troops around. Thank you Bibi!”
He then reiterated claims of a Hezbollah agreement to cease hostilities. . Israeli sources indicated no troops were heading to Beirut, and operations in southern Lebanon continued as planned. Netanyahu’s office did not comment directly on the reported tone of the call.
As of Tuesday morning, Israeli operations against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon have continued after reports of rocket fire targeting Israeli territory. Netanyahu reiterated that Israel will strike Beirut targets if attacks on Israeli civilians persist.
