NextFin News - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested that U.S. President Trump maintain military and economic pressure on Tehran, urging the administration not to agree to a ceasefire until Iran surrenders its entire stockpile of enriched uranium. The appeal, made during a high-stakes phone call on Sunday evening, highlights a growing strategic rift between Jerusalem’s "total victory" requirements and a Washington administration weighing the domestic political costs of a prolonged Middle Eastern conflict. According to Israel’s Channel 12, Netanyahu specifically cautioned U.S. President Trump against a mediation proposal involving Turkey and Pakistan, which suggests a 45-day pause in hostilities in exchange for a partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposed diplomatic roadmap would see the U.S. unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets as a "confidence-building measure" following the initial six-week truce. Netanyahu reportedly argued that such a pause would allow the Islamic Republic to reconstitute its command structure and diminish its incentive to make permanent nuclear concessions. For the Israeli leader, the primary objective remains the elimination of Iran’s "threshold status"—the technical ability to produce a nuclear warhead on short notice. While U.S. President Trump reportedly offered assurances that Iran would not be permitted to retain this capability, the White House has not yet publicly committed to the "uranium surrender" ultimatum as a prerequisite for halting current military operations.
Market reactions to the potential for a prolonged conflict have been sharp, with Brent crude futures fluctuating as the U.S. deadline for the Hormuz blockade approaches. Nathan Shachar, a veteran Middle East correspondent for Dagens Nyheter who has covered the region’s security dynamics for decades, noted that the Iranian regime appears to believe its bargaining position has actually improved despite significant infrastructure damage. Shachar’s analysis suggests that Tehran is banking on two factors: the global economic strain caused by energy disruptions and the rising domestic opposition within the U.S. to another "forever war." This perspective, while influential in European diplomatic circles, is viewed with skepticism by some Israeli intelligence officials who point to the "enormous devastation" of Iran’s military-industrial complex as evidence of a regime nearing its breaking point.
The tension between the two allies is further complicated by the conflict in Lebanon. Netanyahu has urged U.S. President Trump to reject Iranian demands for a simultaneous ceasefire involving Hezbollah, insisting that the campaigns remain decoupled to prevent the militant group from using a diplomatic window to rearm. This hardline stance is not without its critics within the Israeli security establishment. Some former military commanders have cautioned that demanding the total surrender of uranium stockpiles may be a "maximalist" goal that risks a wider, uncontrollable escalation if diplomacy fails completely. These analysts argue that a phased approach, focusing first on verifiable enrichment halts, might be more sustainable than an all-or-nothing demand for physical surrender.
U.S. President Trump faces a delicate balancing act as he enters the second year of his term. While his administration has maintained a policy of "maximum pressure," the financial burden of sustained military deployments in the Persian Gulf is substantial. Netanyahu’s domestic political timeline also looms large; with Israeli elections approaching, the Prime Minister is keen to secure a definitive strategic win against Tehran to anchor his campaign. However, if the U.S. President decides that the economic risks of a closed Strait of Hormuz outweigh the benefits of continued strikes, the "special relationship" could face its most significant test since the 2025 inauguration. For now, the U.S. military remains on high alert as the deadline for the Hormuz blockade draws near, with no formal ceasefire agreement in sight.
Explore more exclusive insights at nextfin.ai.
