Trump Pursues US-Iran Peace Deal While Sidelining Netanyahu

President Donald Trump is pursuing a "big-deal" peace negotiation with Iran to restructure the Middle East regional order [1, 2].

This shift marks a significant departure from traditional U.S.-Israel security cooperation. By effectively excluding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from these talks and halting the sharing of core security intelligence, the Trump administration is signaling a willingness to prioritize a direct diplomatic path with Tehran over the strategic preferences of the current Israeli government [1, 2].

The move comes as Netanyahu faces declining domestic support and ongoing legal challenges within Israel [1, 2]. These internal pressures have reportedly reduced the prime minister's leverage in Washington, prompting the U.S. to sideline him during the decision-making process regarding regional security [1, 2].

Israeli opposition leader Ya'ir Lapid addressed the shift in influence. "Prime Minister Netanyahu and the current government have lost most of their ability to exercise influence on the decision-making process in Washington," Lapid said ^[1].

The administration's strategy aims to establish a new regional order through a comprehensive agreement with Iran [1, 2]. This approach suggests a pivot toward a broader geopolitical realignment that may not align with the immediate security goals of the Netanyahu government [1, 2].

While the specific terms of the proposed "big-deal" remain undisclosed, the suspension of intelligence sharing indicates a high level of friction between the U.S. and Israeli leadership [1, 2]. The exclusion of Israel from these core security discussions represents a rare break in the intelligence-sharing partnership that has historically defined the two nations' strategic alliance [1, 2].