Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told confidants in private conversations that Israel has little ability to influence US President Donald Trump’s decision-making on Iran as the president negotiates a deal in the nearly three-month-old war, according to two sources speaking to Reuters on Monday.

Netanyahu’s comments, described by two Israeli officials with knowledge of the conversations, come as Israel has largely been left out of talks to reach an initial deal to halt a war that began with joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28.

Both the US and Iran have played down hopes for an imminent breakthrough in talks, and they remain at odds over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Tehran’s demands for the lifting of sanctions, and Israel’s war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Netanyahu is demanding the right to continue operations against perceived threats on all fronts, including Lebanon, a caveat that could derail a deal if Iran insists on a complete halt to Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.

One of the Israeli officials, involved in Netanyahu’s private conversations, said the premier had expressed concerns about the memorandum of understanding currently being negotiated. Both of the sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

The agreement would see Iran open the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US lifting its naval blockade, a senior Trump administration official said, followed by 60 days of further negotiations on nuclear issues. The US and Iran have been holding indirect talks mediated by Pakistan.

Iranian sources have told Reuters that in future ​stages, “feasible formulas” could be found to resolve the dispute ​over its highly enriched........

© The Times of Israel