Trump slaps down Netanyahu push as he rejects bloody plot

By ROSS IBBETSON, ASSOCIATE EDITOR and PHILLIP NIETO, US POLITICAL REPORTER

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Donald Trump has brutally slapped down Benjamin Netanyahu's push for the US to incite a bloody street revolution to topple the Iranian regime. 'Why the hell should we tell people to take to the streets when they'll just get mowed down,' Mr Trump told the Israeli prime minister in a call last week. It came just hours after Iran's security chief Ali Larijani was killed in an Israeli strike last Tuesday. Mr Netanyahu told the US President that the regime was in disarray and that there was a window for a popular uprising, a US official and Israeli source told Axios. But Mr Trump feared a massacre, mindful that thousands of Iranians had been slaughtered by paramilitary forces during anti-regime protests before the war. Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump agreed to wait and see if the Iranians would come out during the annual festival of fire without encouragement, a source said.

Donald Trump has brutally slapped down Benjamin Netanyahu's push for the US to incite a bloody street revolution to topple the Iranian regime. 'Why the hell should we tell people to take to the streets when they'll just get mowed down,' Mr Trump told the Israeli prime minister in a call last week. It came just hours after Iran's security chief Ali Larijani was killed in an Israeli strike last Tuesday. Mr Netanyahu told the US President that the regime was in disarray and that there was a window for a popular uprising, a US official and Israeli source told Axios. But Mr Trump feared a massacre, mindful that thousands of Iranians had been slaughtered by paramilitary forces during anti-regime protests before the war. Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump agreed to wait and see if the Iranians would come out during the annual festival of fire without encouragement, a source said.

A Bunker Blitz 

But the Israeli PM proceeded anyway, stating on TV: 'Our aircraft are striking terrorist operatives... This is meant to allow the brave Iranian people to celebrate the festival of fire. So go out and celebrate... We are watching from above.' The rupture lays bare a widening gap between the two leaders, with Washington quietly distancing itself from Jerusalem on regime change despite Trump urging a popular uprising when the war began. Mr Netanyahu has since secretly convened his generals and pushed for a 48-hour blitz on Iran's top targets, even as Mr Trump moves to nail down a swift peace deal. Mr Netanyahu convened Israeli commanders in a bunker deep beneath Tel Aviv on Tuesday after reviewing the President's 15-point peace plan. The Israeli prime minister and his top military advisers were alarmed the US plan did not go far enough to curb Tehran's military capabilities. His Thursday deadline reflects deep concern within the Israeli government that Mr Trump could reach a deal with Tehran at any moment, sources say.

But the Israeli PM proceeded anyway, stating on TV: 'Our aircraft are striking terrorist operatives... This is meant to allow the brave Iranian people to celebrate the festival of fire. So go out and celebrate... We are watching from above.' The rupture lays bare a widening gap between the two leaders, with Washington quietly distancing itself from Jerusalem on regime change despite Trump urging a popular uprising when the war began. Mr Netanyahu has since secretly convened his generals and pushed for a 48-hour blitz on Iran's top targets, even as Mr Trump moves to nail down a swift peace deal. Mr Netanyahu convened Israeli commanders in a bunker deep beneath Tel Aviv on Tuesday after reviewing the President's 15-point peace plan. The Israeli prime minister and his top military advisers were alarmed the US plan did not go far enough to curb Tehran's military capabilities. His Thursday deadline reflects deep concern within the Israeli government that Mr Trump could reach a deal with Tehran at any moment, sources say.

The Six-Week Goal 

Israeli officials present at the underground meeting described the atmosphere as 'tense.' It comes as Mr Trump told his fellow Republicans on Wednesday that the US and Israel'cut out the cancer' of Iran's nuclear program as insiders claim he's privately seeking to end the war within weeks. The president declared victory over Iran's nuclear threat while speaking to the National Republican Congressional Committee and said the US military was ready to deliver the knockout blow. 'It’s short term. What we had to do is get rid of the cancer. We had to cut out the cancer. The cancer was Iran with a nuclear weapon,' he said. 'We’ve cut it out. Now we’re going to finish it off.' Meanwhile, Mr Trump privately told allies and cabinet members that he doesn't want the war to be drawn out much longer. Mr Trump had initially outlined a four to six-week timeline at the beginning of the war and he wants to stick to that goal. Iran rejected the proposal on Wednesday, but Mr Trump remains bullish on a deal and a ceasefire could come as early as next Saturday, Israeli media has reported.

Israeli officials present at the underground meeting described the atmosphere as 'tense.' It comes as Mr Trump told his fellow Republicans on Wednesday that the US and Israel'cut out the cancer' of Iran's nuclear program as insiders claim he's privately seeking to end the war within weeks. The president declared victory over Iran's nuclear threat while speaking to the National Republican Congressional Committee and said the US military was ready to deliver the knockout blow. 'It’s short term. What we had to do is get rid of the cancer. We had to cut out the cancer. The cancer was Iran with a nuclear weapon,' he said. 'We’ve cut it out. Now we’re going to finish it off.' Meanwhile, Mr Trump privately told allies and cabinet members that he doesn't want the war to be drawn out much longer. Mr Trump had initially outlined a four to six-week timeline at the beginning of the war and he wants to stick to that goal. Iran rejected the proposal on Wednesday, but Mr Trump remains bullish on a deal and a ceasefire could come as early as next Saturday, Israeli media has reported.

Mr Netanyahu's inner circle is intent on reaching three key war goals: eliminating Iran's ballistic-missile stockpile, ensuring Tehran cannot develop a nuclear warhead, and fostering an environment within Iran for civilians to overthrow the Islamic regime. 'If you do not obtain the three objectives, you will not be able to end the war,' said Boaz Bismuth, a member of his party. Mr Trump has not touched on regime change in his messaging since the early days of the war, and the White House does not list it among in its four official objectives: destroy Iran's missiles, Navy, armed proxies, and nuclear capabilities. Pentagon chiefs last night ordered around 2,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East to join some 4,500 Marines already en route, as Trump's peace push shows signs of weakening. The President is prepared to pull the trigger on a full-scale invasion if Tehran continues to rebuff his diplomatic overtures, according to members of his inner circle. 'Trump has a hand open for a deal, and the other is a fist, waiting to punch you in the [expletive] face,' an aide told Axios.

Mr Netanyahu's inner circle is intent on reaching three key war goals: eliminating Iran's ballistic-missile stockpile, ensuring Tehran cannot develop a nuclear warhead, and fostering an environment within Iran for civilians to overthrow the Islamic regime. 'If you do not obtain the three objectives, you will not be able to end the war,' said Boaz Bismuth, a member of his party. Mr Trump has not touched on regime change in his messaging since the early days of the war, and the White House does not list it among in its four official objectives: destroy Iran's missiles, Navy, armed proxies, and nuclear capabilities. Pentagon chiefs last night ordered around 2,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East to join some 4,500 Marines already en route, as Trump's peace push shows signs of weakening. The President is prepared to pull the trigger on a full-scale invasion if Tehran continues to rebuff his diplomatic overtures, according to members of his inner circle. 'Trump has a hand open for a deal, and the other is a fist, waiting to punch you in the [expletive] face,' an aide told Axios.

The 15-point plan, modeled on Mr Trump's Gaza deal, would require Iran to dismantle all nuclear and long-range missile capabilities, open the Strait of Hormuz, and abandon proxy terror groups. But Iranian state TV said on Wednesday that the regime had rejected the proposal outright, with Tehran demanding the closure of all US bases in the Gulf, reparations, and an end to Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Tehran is also seeking to bring the strait – a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world's oil – under its control, allowing it to charge transit fees on passing vessels, much like Egypt does with the Suez Canal. A Trump official described Iran's demands as 'ridiculous' and 'unrealistic', warning that a deal is now harder to reach than before the war began as the President readies a potential ground invasion force. US and Iranian diplomats have not spoken through direct contact and instead communicate via Middle Eastern intermediaries from Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan.

The 15-point plan, modeled on Mr Trump's Gaza deal, would require Iran to dismantle all nuclear and long-range missile capabilities, open the Strait of Hormuz, and abandon proxy terror groups. But Iranian state TV said on Wednesday that the regime had rejected the proposal outright, with Tehran demanding the closure of all US bases in the Gulf, reparations, and an end to Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Tehran is also seeking to bring the strait – a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world's oil – under its control, allowing it to charge transit fees on passing vessels, much like Egypt does with the Suez Canal. A Trump official described Iran's demands as 'ridiculous' and 'unrealistic', warning that a deal is now harder to reach than before the war began as the President readies a potential ground invasion force. US and Iranian diplomats have not spoken through direct contact and instead communicate via Middle Eastern intermediaries from Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan.

Saudi Arabia has made clear that ceding control of the Strait of Hormuz is a non-starter, with Riyadh urging Trump to stay in the fight. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has repeatedly urged Trump to finish the Islamic regime in calls over the last week, including the use of ground forces to seize Iran's energy sites. Iran remains wary of Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, accusing the pair of 'backstabbing' Tehran in negotiations ahead of the US and Israel's strikes on February 28. Iranian officials are pushing for Vice President JD Vance to lead the US negotiating team, believing he is sympathetic after privately expressing doubts about Operation Epic Fury.

Saudi Arabia has made clear that ceding control of the Strait of Hormuz is a non-starter, with Riyadh urging Trump to stay in the fight. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has repeatedly urged Trump to finish the Islamic regime in calls over the last week, including the use of ground forces to seize Iran's energy sites. Iran remains wary of Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, accusing the pair of 'backstabbing' Tehran in negotiations ahead of the US and Israel's strikes on February 28. Iranian officials are pushing for Vice President JD Vance to lead the US negotiating team, believing he is sympathetic after privately expressing doubts about Operation Epic Fury.

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